Page 8 of The Ruler
There was another set of recordings where I didn’t smile or act but spoke straight from my heart.
“Mom,” I said and steadied my trembling voice. “If you get this message it’s because something went wrong. I want you to promise me that you won’t feel guilty and that you won’t act from your grieving heart. I do not wish war on our people; we can’t hit others without taking punches ourselves.
“Remember me,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “And remember when you told me about the old missionaries and how they went into hostile areas and converted people to their religion? I want you to remember me that way. As a missionary who was willing to risk my life because of my strong belief in inclusiveness and harmony. I just want the world to be peaceful.”
Blowing a kiss, I teared up and whispered, “I love you, Mom.”
Twenty-one hours after my negotiations with Khan, I crossed the border with my suitcase behind me. On the surface, I was calm and collected just like I preferred people to see me. On the inside, I was battling awful worst-case scenarios.
Behind me were the open gates and a small delegation of four people waiting to accompany Athena back to her home and instruct her on what to say when anyone asked her where she’d been.
We didn’t have police or military, but we did have mediators that were especially trained to handle emotionally stressful situations and deal with people who were tense or agitated. Before I crossed the border, they had all offered advice on coping techniques, and I had politely listened and thanked them before I wished them eternal peace and nervously walked into the Northlands.
In front of me were only green nature and a hill to hide what lay beyond. A large scary-looking man stood, with his legs spread and his arms crossed, in front of a red drone that looked bigger and sleeker than the ones we had.
Down the hill came a woman whom I assumed to be Athena. I searched for any sort of pain in the way she walked but she didn’t look injured or frightened in any way. The wind made her dark copper-colored hair blow around her face and she waved it back while squinting her eyes because of the sun. As she came closer, I could see her forehead furrow, which wrinkled the tattoo above her nose that signaled she was a priestess.
As with all priestesses her tattoo was a combination of different symbols representing the wisdom and knowledge she had gathered so far. With time more symbols would be added as she evolved.
Athena looked very young, but her tattoos showed me she was wise beyond her years or potentially older than she looked.
“May peace surround you,” she said as she came up to me.
“May peace surround you too,” I said and gave her a genuine smile. “I’m so pleased to see you in good health.” We held hands in the official greeting and kept eye contact as we spoke.
“I thank you for offering yourself to free me.” Athena tilted her head and let her hands slide up to my upper arms. “Fear not; they do not eat women or cage them.”
I smiled bravely. “Lord Khan guaranteed my safety.”
“That’s good. I will think of you and send positive energy and light to you,” Athena said softly.
My gut was in knots and when I looked ahead to the Nman watching us from a distance, my heart drummed as a signal for me to run in the opposite direction.
“He trusts that we won’t both run back across the border?” I said out loud because I wondered why he didn’t come closer to make sure we didn’t run.
“He knows integrity is embedded in your DNA. If not, you wouldn’t be on the council.”
“He knows about our selection process?” I asked.
Athena let go of my shoulders and turned to look back at the giant. “I can’t say, but he knows that you’re bound by your word. Besides, he has a numb-gun; we wouldn’t make it far.”
I wanted to prolong my time with Athena, but the man shifted his weight from one leg to the other clearly signaling his impatience.
“Go in peace,” she said and sidestepped to let me go.
“Go in peace and be free,” I answered and drew in a deep breath before I walked ahead with my head held high and my heart beating loud in my ears.
The closer I came, the larger and meaner the man looked. Khan had told me he would send his brother, and as far as I knew he only had one brother.So this is the man who kidnapped Athena. The same man that Laura escaped from,I thought and only found more sympathy in my heart for poor Laura. If I had been forced to marry someone like him, I would have run too.
Even from a safe distance I could feel darkness emanate from him. This man really didn’t like me and he was angry.
Being a fairly tall woman myself, I knew he had to be at least two meters and ten with the way I had to lean my head back to see his blue eyes. He probably wasn’t Khan’s biological brother, as Khan was dark and this man was dirty blond and had much lighter skin than Khan.
“Welcome to the free world,” he said with a sardonic smirk. “I’m honored to meet the Momsi with the biggest balls.”
His words confused me. “I didn’t bring any balls,” I said. “Is it customary to bring balls?”
“Not balls,” he said with annoyance and grabbed his crotch. “Balls.”
