Page 44 of Orange Sky
When Ist refused to move, Fancy boots taunted, “Yes, this will make the Silver Beast mad. His beast will know it as well. The better to kill him when all he can see is her.”
Finally, Ist moved but I knew he felt it when I stiffened. Whatever Fancy boot said, that sounded ominous. He placed his hand behind my left calf and petted it up and down as if that would make me calm. The thought felt reassuring, but my body is stiff and wanting to run away from this place. Or whateverheremeant.
Ist moved and then I felt a hard stone on my left side. I couldn’t help it. I opened my eyes and saw Ist’s belt. I wanted to reach out to one of the mean looking daggers he has but my body is too stiff now to move.
I lay on my side but facing the wall. My back to the company behind us. Ist tried to rearrange my stiff body. I refrained from jerking my leg and kicking myself out of this mess.
He seemed to know it. He paused. Next thing I knew, he was shoving something in my hand that has no bandage. I tried to close my hand and when I did, I felt the sharp edges of one of the daggers in his belt.
What the?
Is this all a charade? Is he double crossing these people?
I relaxed my grip at the same time Ist moved away from whatever platform I am on.
And I waited, waited. Like a damned princess in distress. Waiting for a knight in shining armor. I need to get my act together because I have this strong sense that a tragedy is about to happen and this could be my last night on this planet. I am not the type to wait for somebody else to rescue me. So I tried to channel my inner strength and came up blank.
Huh?
I tried again to think and meditate. What are my options? What are -
Not good. My mind is literally going blank. I clenched my fist. Surprisingly, I felt the bite of the dagger. And it kept me awake.
It seems like this slab of stone saps away the strength of another person.
I heard a ping inside the cave. “Good,” Fancy boots chuckled. “They lured that Purple Captain away from us. I wonder who tipped him off?”
The third guy harrumphed. “You know he’s got the hots for your tail.”
“Ha, as if that’s it. No, he always wanted to get rid of Kilo and his gang. We are just an enterprising lot.”
The third guy snorted.
“This should tell us that he is following someone. Not us. Could be Kilo is near. Or he is tasked to follow Zirc. Those Elders are nothing if not thorough. But the Purple Guard and the Elders. Something about it is not right. He will not act without the Purple King’s commands.”
“The prize is the people,” Ist said. “Without the Elders, the people will be free.”
“We will get there. The Elders had suppressed the people for thousands of years. Even the Tribal Leaders can’t directly defy them. Our numbers are dwindling. Something must be done.”
“Do you really believe the one they called the Oracle?”
“The Elders seem to believe this Oracle. Other galaxies believe in the Oracle as well. I have seen her.”
“You’ve seen the Oracle?” Ist had awe in his voice.
“She is beautiful, yes. But there is something about her eyes that is ancient. Whatever it was, I was dressed up as an attendant at that time, the Elders got scared. Then I saw excitement and greed in their eyes.”
“You never told me what it was the Oracle said,” Ist had dismay in his voice. As if he is ranked higher and should know.
“My dear Ist. Ah, your parents will be so proud that you took part in this quest. This is monumental. The relic that you saw? The amber colored one. Strange that the color is amber, a very common crystal color. Maybe it was designed that way. Ah, I’m sorry I ramble. I can see from both of you that you are eager to know what it is.”
I heard a movement. I also strained to hear this story.
“The Oracle said the relic holds the key to our salvation. It holds the power to bring back our females.”
I heard gasps. Females? What does he mean to bring back the females? Are they all dead? Enslaved? By these Elders?
“Is that true?” I hear the sense of incredulity in Ist’s voice.
