MAGE-IMPERATOR JORA’H
Despite all the pageantry as the Solar Navy warliners arrived at Theroc, Jora’h felt both somber and tense. He knew King Peter and Queen Estarra well enough, but humans were always a mystery to him—except for Nira.
“I do not intend to make excuses for what happened to the human enclave,” he said to her as the cutter took them down to the surface of the worldforest planet. “We all know that our strength lies in alliance.”
Nira peered through the windowport at the expansive worldforest below. “The trees will help us too, if they can.”
Riding with them, Yazra’h and Muree’n were resplendent in their supple body armor, looking even more dangerous than the guard kithmen. Yazra’h said, “When Osira’h returns to the Prism Palace, we will keep her safe. I advise that we bring Rememberer Anton home as well. He belongs with us.”
Jora’h was amenable to the suggestion, considering all that Anton Colicos had done for Ildiran society. “I cannot command the human historian, but if he wishes to come back with us, he is certainly welcome to do so.”
“He will definitely wish to come back with us,” Yazra’h said without a glimmer of doubt. “I will keep him safe.”
Muree’n added, “We will keep him safe.”
The cutter landed on the dense canopy, and the guard kithmen spread out as an armed escort. Jora’h held himself proudly as he looked out at the hazy jungle sunshine. The female green priest stood at his side like a queen, and she inhaled deeply. “I love the smell of the worldforest!”
He took her hand and they went to meet the King and Queen.
* * *
Inside the throne chamber of the fungus-reef city, the Mage-Imperator faced Peter and Estarra as an equal. He lowered his head, but did not bow.
“I have something important to say. When we allowed an enclave of human expatriates to settle in Mijistra, I promised them safety. I said that the Ildiran people would welcome them. I failed to protect them from the shadows, and they were massacred by my own people. Those Ildirans were possessed, but I still accept the responsibility.” Now he raised his eyes to look directly at Peter and Estarra. “I sincerely hope you will not let this damage the alliance between our races. The enemies arising now may be even greater than those we faced during the Elemental War.”
After a long, moment, Peter said, “We’re just beginning to comprehend how dangerous the Shana Rei are. They nearly destroyed Theroc with their eclipse plate, but with the aid of your Solar Navy, we survived.” He glanced toward the Queen. “We have to fight together, not against each other.”
Dusky and beautiful, Estarra lifted her chin. “We know about the tragic massacre of humans, Mage-Imperator, and our hearts ache for all that innocent blood spilled. But we blame the shadows, not Ildirans.”
Peter said, “We fear that the Shana Rei also have a vendetta against the verdani mind. Even the worldforest cannot remember what happened the last time the Shana Rei appeared, but we have visitors now, the Onthos. They survived those times and the destruction of their world. Since taking refuge here they have told us some of their experiences.”
As if summoned, a dozen small gray-skinned creatures entered the throne chamber. Nira had let Jora’h know about the arrival of the Onthos, but he looked at the creatures in amazement nevertheless. “The Saga does not mention the Onthos at all.”
“Very few of us remain. Only a hundred of us came to Theroc.” The leader of the creatures took a step forward. “I am called Ohro. The King and Queen have allowed us to stay here, where we can be safe … if any place is safe from the Shana Rei.”
Ohro took a long strange sniff to inhale the Mage-Imperator’s scent. Yazra’h and Muree’n both tensed, holding their sharp crystal katanas ready, but the alien made no threatening move. “The Shana Rei are subtle. One cannot always tell where they are or where they have been.”
A fiftyish man with gray-salted brown hair entered the chamber, dressed in casual clothes. He carried an armload of records, even an old-fashioned pad for taking notes. Yazra’h brightened as she saw him. “Rememberer Anton! I am glad to see you are safe and healthy.”
“And very busy. We need to piece together all information about the Shana Rei,” said Anton Colicos. “The Gardeners have added a lot of stories about their original world and their previous encounter with the shadows, but the worldforest doesn’t remember the details. When all those trees died on their planet, it created a sort of amnesia in the verdani mind—which causes great consternation among the green priests.”
Yazra’h said, “We have come to take Osira’h back to Theroc. You should accompany us, too. You have more research to do there. The rememberers have uncovered centuries of buried records.”
Anton Colicos seemed intimidated by Yazra’h. Jora’h had noticed it before. “I … I’m still interviewing Ohro and the other Gardeners,” Anton said, then added, “And a wyvern has been attacking one of the coastal settlements here. Hunters have gone after it, but so far they’ve all failed. I’ve been taking notes.”
Yazra’h’s eyes sparkled, and she glanced at Muree’n. “I am interested to see how that story turns out.”
“We should go and help kill it,” Muree’n said.
Yazra’h continued speaking to Anton, as if no one else was there. “Yes, Muree’n and I will go dispatch the monster. You will come along to observe and chronicle our deeds. Then, once this wyvern is slain, you will return to Ildira with us.”
Jora’h was surprised to hear his daughter’s eagerness, though not surprised that a monster hunt appealed to her. Remembering herself, Yazra’h turned to him. “With your permission, of course, Liege.”
Jora’h passed the matter to Peter and Estarra. “That is a decision for the King and Queen to make.”
Peter wore a serious expression. “It will be dangerous. I’ve lost several hunters already, and fifteen villagers from Shorehaven.”
Jora’h said, “You do not know Yazra’h’s capabilities.”
“Or mine,” Muree’n added.
Estarra smiled. “We’d be fools to turn down their assistance. Shorehaven will be happy to have the help and we would be grateful.”
Jora’h nodded to the two warriors. “While I remain here to conduct business with the Confederation, you two may make the attempt. Do not take overlong.”
Yazra’h rapped the butt end of her katana on the floor of the fungus-reef chamber. “We will not take overlong. It is only one monster.”
Muree’n spoke up, “I will keep Yazra’h safe. Do not worry.”
Anton Colicos blinked as if surprised by how quickly decisions had been made around him. “Then I suppose I’m chronicling the rest of the wyvern hunt.”