CHAPTER 8

VOGNAR

Vognar, was a drab unimposing city of high brown and gray brick buildings. Dark and grim like it’s people. There was no color, no joy, the people seemed as drab and unhappy as the city itself appeared to me and my two companions. Zaor and Shamar did not like the mood of the place at all.

Now that we had been taken and locked away in the palace in a prison cell, Shamar the Kevan, was voicing his views.

“Jon Kirk, at first I believed that somehow the Voganrs’ blue-tinged skin coloring was what enabled them to attain their invisibility. That is not true. If you look upon their belt, each one has a small device and that is the secret to their invisibility. They can control it, they can turn it on or off at will by the flick of a switch. It seems they have adapted a similar device, though far larger, in making their ships and much of their city also invisible whenever they want to do so, or need to. Once I learn their secret, we of Keva will be able to copy it. The secret is deeply locked within the minds of certain of their scientific leaders, but for us of Keva, that mind vault while closed is not inaccessible. I am sure there is some way to get at that secret, and I know the Old Ones will not rest until they seek it out.”

“You and your people must keep trying,” I told Shamar. “We need that knowledge to defend against them and to defeat them.”

The Kevan nodded, adding a bit of a shrug, “The trouble is, my mind powers are not always a certainty. There are limits. Only on the inside of the ships and buildings can my vision work properly and see what is truly there. I am young and not as experienced as the Old Ones of the Great Council. In truth I have rather weak mind powers.”

“What of their invisibility? How does it work?” I asked.

“I have thought on this question, Jon Kirk. It occurs to me the Blues invisibility works much in the manner as the Oxln, which is a tiny Ares animal which changes color to match its surroundings—only the Blues device takes that camouflage principle much farther—to complete invisibility.”

I nodded it made sense, I had heard of similar situations back on Earth.

“Shamar, how is it you know so much about these mysterious people?” Zaor asked, perplexed by the Kevan’s apparent vast knowledge. He had never even considered the existence of such strange people as the Blues, or their home being upon a totally separate and undiscovered continent upon Ares. “I have never encountered people such as these before, nor have I heard of their likes from any green people I have had contact with. How can they be?”

Shamar nodded, “Not all that is known, is seen, my friend.”

Zaor looked at the Kevan perplexed by his answer, then he smiled and nodded.

“Can you actually read their minds?” I asked our friend the more important question. I took a guess at what might be the truth behind Shamar’s knowledge of the Vognars but I wanted to be certain.

“No, not exactly. I can only see inside their minds at very rare times, but even then it is often difficult to know exactly what I am viewing. Mind vision is not as clear as you might think, Jon Kirk,” Shamar carefully replied looking at Zaor and myself—one of us a green Cosian, the other a mysterious white-skinned warrior who said he had come from the outworld planet of Earth.

The man from Keva continued, “I do know what they are thinking most of the time, because they also put their thoughts on guard. My people—the Kevans, who you tell me neither of you men had ever heard of—have been perfecting our mind powers for generations. The Old Ones of our city are much more skillful in this power than I am and they possess it to a far greater degree. Some of them, such as Aron, have centuries of experience in the mind arts. I am sure they are working on discovering all the Vognar secrets now. Then they will take that knowledge and put it to good use for our side.”

“I hope so,” I stated simply, adding, “I also have never heard of your country.”

“Nor I of your own, until you told me of this Am-Racan, and Ea-Arth,” Shamar replied with a wry grin. “Our Old Ones—our leaders—discourage contact with the outside world. That is the reason the Winged-men of Zar have never conquered us, they barely know of our existence and have no idea of the location of our city. They surmise we must be somewhere in the north, of course, hiding from them, but they have never been able to discover the actual location. Our Old Ones have ways to numb and confuse the thoughts of those of Zar should they ever come too close to Keva. So the enemy have never found our city. To all outsiders it is lost in the shadows, obscured and unseen by all as our Old Ones stand guard. The Winged-men have never conquered our people. It is a source of pride with us that we remain free when we see the terror they have done to the other green people of this world. We have seen much, but we have not been unmoved by the plight of these people. We have wanted to help ever since the winged pestilence came to Ares but we are a small city, only a few thousand people in all, realistically our warriors would have no effect in any fight. But now, Jon Kirk you are here. You have united the people and created the Green Empire and defeated the Winged-men in battle after battle. Now we feel it is time for us to act. Now the Vognars are involved as well, so we of Keva know it is our time and that we must act, for our own safety as well as your own.”

Zaor nodded at that grim truth, “It is good to have your people on our side.”

I thought deeply upon what Shamar had told us and it gave me a fearful dark moment. These Blues and the Winged-men—allies! That was the worse that could happen. There was much to be done, the situation was complicated and extremely dangerous. I thought that defeating the Winged-men last year had been a miracle and a major victory that ended the war, but now I saw that the green people of Ares were still locked in a vicious struggle with an implacable foe and the war would go on for much longer. These facts were a lot to digest.

We three sat in a circle upon the floor of our cell discussing the possibility of escape. Making our plans. There seemed to be very few viable alternatives.

* * * *

Much time passed. What seemed hours or maybe even days later, a dozen burly guards unlocked the door and entered our prison chamber. With sword points put meaningfully to our backs, they rousted us to our feet and ordered us to follow them. Since they were in their own city, they must have felt secure so they did not use their invisibility here. We could see the men clearly.

The guard commander was Vaar, once again, the same Vognar who had first captured us and brought us to this city of the blue people. The Blues were now visible to us, and that enabled me to take a particular interest in their war belts and harnesses, and at the small box-like device each warrior had attached on his belt. If need be, I was sure I would be able to ‘borrow’ one of these devices, but for now, I would do nothing and go along with their game to see what they had in store for us.

I looked over at Shamar, then at the small box on Vaar‘s belt, the Kevan nodded in acknowledgement—yes, that was the invisibility device.

“Come now! Quickly!” Vaar ordered us gruffly. He and his men pricked us with their sword points with deadly menace to get us moving. “You are to be brought before our Supreme Leader, the Noble Okvon. Come with us now!”

I nodded to my companions. This might be the time that we discovered some of the answers to our many questions, or it might be a good time to make our move to freedom. I whispered such words to my companions who only nodded in reply, wary and ready for my command. I asked them to be ready, but hold off for now. We would go with our captors, I wanted to see what this Okvon had to say.

Flanked by armed guards we were led down a large corridor which was dark and drab like the rest of the Vognar buildings. Such decorations as there were on display in the halls, were depressing and cold. These seemed a grim and joyless people.

My two companions and I were then led up stairs and then up ramps through more corridors and eventually into a huge hall, at the end of which opened into an enormous audience chamber. We assumed we were to be brought before the Vognar leader but the huge chamber appeared to be entirely empty. It seemed the Voganrs were not very punctual when it came to time schedules. Vaar had moved us quickly so I assumed the Vognar leader wanted us to be brought before him as soon as possible. When we saw no one was there and the chamber was empty it seemed strange. But it did not matter to me. So be it.

We were brought forward under tight guard. I looked at my guards and their leader, the officer, Vaar.

“Vaar, why have we been abducted?” I demanded of the Blue officer right away. “There is no hostility between the green and blue people. We are not enemies.”

Vaar only shook his head, then finally explained, “Originally, we were sent out with orders to collect the three Greens who would give our invading army the most trouble; Jon Kirk, and General Zaor, whose absence we were told would doom your people and city to easy conquest.”

“Told by who?” I asked Vaar. The Vognar only gave me a sly smile but he did not answer that question, then he did continue talking. So I continued listening.

“A month ago our scouts captured a dozen Greens and brought them here to gather information. Our Supreme Leader learned much valuable information from them. Some died in torture refusing to give up any information, but there were others who more than willing to gave up any information we requested. In fact, three of them proved to be so cooperative we have set them free, and they have even asked to join our forces. For their assistance they have been well rewarded.”

“They are traitors! They deserve death! What are their names!” I growled, wanting to know who these three dogs might be. I demanded Vaar tell me, intently repeating my demand of who these three Greens might be. I wanted their names, but Vaar only laughed at me and would not tell me anything about them.

I blurted out, “Are their names Tob, Crooch and Vakon?”

Vaar only laughed at this. “I am not required to answer your questions! Who do you think you are?”

I shot Vaar a hard look and he seemed to shrink a bit under my withering gaze. However, the Vognar did continue with his story, telling us, “Regardless of their names, these three new friends told us all we needed to know to conquer the eastern continent—especially the fact that there were two men who would unite defiance against us. We were given the names of two men who were held in such great respect and honor—men the Greens would follow even into the Afterworld—the name of Jon Kirk the emperor, and Zaor the general. So I was sent to find you and take you both as prisoners. It was so easy for us to do using our invisible flying ships and our invisible warriors. Without you two to unite the empire of the Greens we were told it will eventually break apart into dozens of petty tribes and clans and thus be easy prey for our army. Even now, our allies, the Zaran Winged-men, are at the very gates of the city of Tarcos and have it under siege.”

I shot a quick look at the warrior in fear. Tarcos under siege? If true, I had now learned something that sent ice through my veins. My fears for the worst that could happen were true, and yet, if the city were still under siege, then at least it might not have fallen. Not yet. Tarcos may still hold out for some time. So I prayed the city had not yet fallen. Then perhaps Sirah was still safe—for now—at least. Perhaps? It was grim news that weighed heavily upon my thoughts. So now I understood why Zaor and I were here. I looked over at Vaar and held down my anger for the moment. There would be plenty of time for action and blood-letting upon our enemy, but now was not the time. I took a deep breath and a moment to regain my composure.

“I understand what you have told us about Zaor and myself, Vaar, but why is this man from Keva, here?” I asked, looking over at Shamar curiously.

Vaar just shrugged, then added, “It is because we realize that by being a Kevan king, he is an important leader from that mysterious city, whose inhabitants have certain mind powers. Our Supreme Leader is convinced that those of Keva have discovered a mind force which can be an impediment to our plans of conquest. So we must bring these Kevans to heel. This one shall tell us all he knows about that city and his people.”

“That is what you think!” Shamar barked out with a grim smile. “You Blues seek information from us all for your conquest. You will gain nothing from me.”

“Nor me either!” Zaor growled defiantly.

Shamar added hotly, “You Blues desperately want to know how to use our Kevan mind powers. Well, you will never find out what we know, but I know you will try anything to make me tell you what you want to know. You can try all you want, but you will learn nothing from me!”

“Oh, you will tell us,” Vaar promised with dark menace. “We have the most excellent practitioners who can loosen anyone’s tongue, each well-versed in every aspect of torture.”

“I’m sure you do,” I blurted angrily at this admission.

“We will rather die than tell you anything,” Zaor stated firmly. “Then you shall die,” Vaar replied coldly.

“I am a Kevan king!” Shamar stated with great pride. Then he spit and turned his face away from our captor. “You will learn nothing from me!”

“Oh, you are very much mistaken, you will tell us all we want to know by the time the torturers get through with you,” Vaar promised hotly. “Then you will beg us to listen to all the deepest secrets that you possess, you will beg us to listen to them all.”

“You and your masters will rue the day you ever captured a Kevan king! Why, I could kill you all now with one simple mind blast!”

I shook my head, telling the Kevan to take care in his fiery words and threats.

“Jon Kirk, they seek to learn the truth of my powers and if there be any more warriors such as I. I should kill them all now,” Shamar laughed boldly, his eyes fixed defiantly upon Vaar’s nervous face. “They want to know the location of our city, and how many Kevans live there. They want to use our powers against us and all of the Greens. Then they will capture or kill us all. They see us as a threat to their dominance over the world—and they are correct!”

Vaar looked worried. “You are a barbarian. How do you know so much? Is it possible, as our Supreme Leader has told us, that your people can read minds? Are you reading my own mind right now? If this is true I must bring you to the attention of the torturers right away.”

Zaor and I looked at Shamar questioningly, wondering if the man truly had this power to read minds—and even more so, if he had read our own minds? He had not admitted this before—quite the opposite in fact. I began to wonder. The thought of him being able to read minds—and control them—made both of us uncomfortable, but it positively made the Blues frantic with fear. I indicated to the Kevan that he needed to say something to placate Vaar’s growing panic—before the man did something violent.

“No, my friends,” Shamar now told us in a quiet whisper, “I did not read Zaor’s mind, nor your own, Jon Kirk. I did not even read this Blue’s mind. If he has one! It is just logical with what my people know of the warlike Vognars that world-wide conquest must be their main goal, but I have only very limited mind power.”

Vaar heard this and demanded, “So your threat against us was just bold and meaningless talk, Kevan?”

Shamar nodded, “I was angry. I have no power to read minds, nor to blast your minds with my own—though I wish I had.”

Vaar was vastly relieved to hear Shamar’s words and gave him a nasty look, but he was obviously relieved that the Kevan had admitted he had not interfered with anyone’s thoughts, nor could he use his mind powers to kill. Vaar cursed us all as troublemakers, then he roughly pushed us forward towards the large dais and throne at the far end of the massive room. The chamber was so expansive that we walked for a full five minutes before we were even near the throne.

When we reached the throne, Vaar barked, “Enough of this chatter. Behold, barbarians, The Great Okvon, Supreme Leader of the Vognars.”

Now that we were deeper inside the majestic chamber of the Vognar Supreme Leader we were surprised to see that it was still completely empty. It was a massive room devoid of any people other than ourselves. It seemed very bizarre.

There was a large and ornate golden throne in front of us set upon a raised dais—but it was also empty. However only for an instant were we puzzled by this vast emptiness—for I knew it all had to be illusion.

I still saw no one. Then I though I heard a light cough, and afterwards the hint of what appeared to be stifled laugher. If it was laugher, it came from more than one person.