His face was blackened with old blood that rested beneath the layers of leather-like skin. It was barely a human face, more elongated and drawn. The black blood pumped through thick veins of his face causing a continuous pulsating ripple. He was one of four Elders.
While they were gatekeepers, they were also hierarchy of the Sybaris community. As in any civilization there are levels of importance and authority. The Elders, be they gatekeepers or city watchers, were the highest of the high.
Then came the Royalty, lawmakers, healers, soldiers, and finally, the educators. That was the chain of command.
For a Sybaris to approach an Elder in regard to another Sybaris, it was serious.
When the lawmakers came and took the survivors from Esperanza to the next town, Iry took me to the gatekeepers.
The lair was dark and damp, foul smelling, heavy with the stench of rotten blood. Trophies of human infant skeletal remains hung on the walls. I wanted to vomit, I didn’t want to be there, yet, it was the only choice for my safety that Iry could think of. Also for my sister.
The Elder’s lips did not move, yet his voice resonated from within him. I was able to hear him. His eyes were glazed with gray with a single speck of black for a pupil.
I wanted to stand farther away from him. He had a stench so bad, even Iry smelled it.
“You know what it is you are accusing Her Highness of committing?” he asked.
I wanted to huff at him, sarcastically reply that I did. However, I simply stepped back and looked at Iry. “Why are we here? He doesn’t believe me.”
“Elder,” Iry said, moving in front of me, “Nito has organized strikes against the rebels in the outer lands and—”
“That is not my concern. They are not under our protection.”
“Those in Esperanza are,” Iry said. “We are supposed to protect them.”
“And you believe that Nito was the reason for the attack?”
“She drew them in.”
“On what basis do you make this accusation?” he asked of me.
“I followed the beast,” I answered. “I locked on to my sister as it carried her away and it took her to Nito.”
“If Nito had nothing to do with it, then why did the beast not just devour the child like everyone else?” Iry pointed out. “He took her to Nito. Also, how did the flock make it beyond the watchful eye of the master gatekeepers? There are gatekeepers to protect all of the Straits, they would have to know the vulnerable entrances to get in, and we know they do not think that deeply.”
“There is talk that they followed her here,” the Elder said. “That she brought them with her.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “And they took my sister?”
“Why should I believe the woman?” the Elder asked Iry.
“For the same reason Nito did this,” Iry replied. “Nito wants her because she is a Mare. A Mare cannot lie.”
“This is true.” He reached out and touched me. I recoiled, not before his bony, ice cold hand locked on to my shoulder. I felt his presence drain me. When he did, for a split second his hideous face turned normal, then transformed again. He hissed a breath. “Very well. This is a crime against her own. She must appear before the king. The king shall hold court, and it will take place today midday.”
“No,” Iry argued. “The king is Nito’s father. They are joined by the same bloodline. He will protect her.”
Iry had to be speaking wrong, they did not share the same blood line. Sybaris could not have children. That was why they took human infants, raised them as their own, then turned them as adults.
“The king is fair,” said the Elder. “Because she is a Mare, he also has the ability to pull the information forward for the court to decide. I have that ability as well, but it would drain her and she is too vital to you and to us. She has chosen you is that not correct?”
Iry looked at me and I nodded.
“Then she is your responsibility. You know what you need to do?”
“What?” I asked. “What do you need to do?” Iry hushed me.
The cloaked Elder pulled his hood back over his face and stepped into the darkness. “You have not long to prepare her. Once the sun crosses the high sky and moves west you will need to go to the High Court.”
“We will, and thank you.” Iry took me by my arm and led me from the lair.
“What do you need to do with me?” I asked again. “What is he talking about?”
“I’ll tell you later, once we get to the city of the Ancients.”
I pulled away. “What about my sister?”
“If we want to help Sophie, then we need to go about it correctly. And that is by going to the high court.”
“Why do they care? Why would they choose to help me? We are human, after all.”
“Nito committed a high crime. She deliberately caused the loss of life to over two hundred humans.”
“Again, why would they care?”
We arrived at the waiting vehicle and he opened the door for me.
“Because we have promised to protect you,” Iry replied, “and more so, by causing the death of so many, as harsh as it sounds, she shorted our food supply.”
My mouth dropped open.
He shrugged. “Sorry.”
I got inside the vehicle and sunk into my seat. “Swell,” I muttered, like I heard Tanner say a hundred times.
We set off on our journey to the City of the Ancients.