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The last dream was something else... a nightmare? My body shivers from time to time, and I can still feel the same falling sensation as when I woke up. I wonder what's going on. There's been too many of these lately. I can't say I remember much after, but it seems that they always end badly somehow.
The fall...!
That part I still remember.
It terrifies me.
Thankfully this time Lhina'an was here to look after me, keeping watch while... I was... away?
"Come, she's waiting for u," the healer woman calls for me to follow her as she slides back inside the cave.
I shake my arm and slowly follow her through the corridors and down the stone maze. The cold cave air feels refreshing compared to the outside temperatures. A draft blows through, carrying all the nearby kitchen flavors with it. My rumbling stomach quickly reminds me I haven't eaten anything since last evening.
We pass through the beast's quarters and dash toward the lower levels. Lhina'an moves swiftly ahead, past countless servants and guards, dragging me along until we finally reach our destination.
The great stone hall opens before me, ugly memories start reappearing inside my mind as my eyes wander toward the massive throne where the mighty chieftain of all burning sands clans sits, once again bored, legs spread, listening to some old men talking at her feet. I sigh relieved. There are no captives today, and the place looks almost deserted. Good.
She yawns and plays with the edge of her axe, running her fingers up and down the sharp blade as if she is scratching an itch. She must be attending some boring clan business that she probably doesn't give a shit about. Well, at least everything seems normal. I relax, hoping no blood will be spilled in front of my eyes today.
Three elders sit kneeling in front of Rai'Ze, one of them speaking, hands waving, asking for favors. Behind them, two warriors lie motionless with their heads bowed. The elders beg for her attention. One of the tribes got in trouble, hunting lines were crossed, others chased their prey away. Justice must be served, and the guilty party must pay for this.
One after another, they take turns telling the same story, trying their best to make it sound more dramatic until the last one calls ancient gods into the picture. Apparently, the offense is so grave that they won't settle for anything less than an entire haare of raiding beasts as tribute!
The beast doesn't even seem to listen to them. This small procession must feel so familiar to her. These wild savages, they always quarrel with each other. One day they hunt together, share the food, drink for health, and laugh, the next, they cut each other into pieces for the smallest offense. The sands know no borders. Everything is up for grabs, and if not for her to keep them apart, they would be ripping each other into pieces by now.
We wait on the side for the meeting to finish. Lhina'an breasts push right against me. I look at her. She doesn't care about this meeting either. Her eyes are resting, staring into the void like in a trance. There's little for me to do but wait for the beast to finish.
My mind starts to wander to not-so-happy thoughts about the last time I was in this hall. The smell of the burning firepits, the rattling of chains, the blood... I shake my head, chase the thoughts away and give myself something else to do, looking around, sizing up the place.
The throne hall is huge, lit by large torches, four for each stone pillar running down the middle and only two for those flanking the sides. The pillars themselves are massive, running from the floor all the way up to the stone ceiling, carved from the same stone as the rest of the cave. Crude large chisel marks run up and down each pillar. Whoever did this didn't care much about the finishing touches.
Large smooth sandstone blocks cover the large floor. The center walkway runs straight, each of its slabs embellished with repeating geometric patterns. A few fire pits lie scattered around, filling the air with the deep charred smell of burning dry old wood. A large round stone platform sits sunken in front of the throne, surrounded by thick wooden rails on both sides. Chain marks run along the rails. My skin crawls. I can't but remember this place. It's not a good place to be. I feel a knot in my throat. This place brings back really bad memories, memories I hope one day to forget.
I look away from the platform, continuing my exploration. On each side of the walkway, lots of thick boulders make for some crude but effective sitting places. Some are bigger than others and seem special somehow, others are covered in furs, and a few have even some markings carved on them. Despite its chaotic look, it seems everything has a meaning and purpose, and probably one day, I'll manage to figure it all out.
A giant black hide hangs way up behind the throne, casting an ominous shade over the back wall. Whatever animal was that, it must have been insanely big and dangerous, with claws as long as my legs and fangs almost my height. I stare at it for a while, trying to guess its real proportions, but my mind refuses to give me any answers. It looks like a bear, a giant, mammoth size bear, with a head as big as a whole cow! Giant fangs appear to shear out of his mouth, too many to number, too frightening to comprehend. Well, here's another one for my nightmare list.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
And then there's the beast's throne. Made completely from solid rock, probably made out of a single massive boulder, it sits raised above all the rest right in front of the sunken platform. Crudely carved symbols adorn its heavy base, some of them similar to the ones on the pillars. Marks of her own tribe, symbols of veneered chieftains that ruled before her.
"Rai'Ze, we're done," I hear Lhina'an's voice as soon as the men leave the hall.
The savage queen puts her axe down and looks at me with interest. She looks majestic and wild on her massive stone throne, like a true savage desert lioness, and just as dangerous, if not more.
"He's alive... still," I hear the beast speaking. She grins and sizes me up, somehow surprised.
I freeze, cold chills running down my back. Was that a question or a statement? I turn back toward Lhina'an for answers. What the hell did she do to me this time? What was that dream? I remember the shivering. I felt like dying right then. Did she poison me? Was I in danger? I need answers, damn it!
But there's no one behind me, there's no one here but me and the beast. How come I didn't hear Lhina'an leave?
"First time is the worst, you must endure," Rai'Ze continues pointing at the bracelet, "now, try it, the Th'al-nik!"
I look at her, confused. Once again, her words make no sense to me.
She wants me to open the bracelet by myself, but I can't, and she knows it. I tried before and failed right in front of her eyes. Wasn't she pissed enough back then? Does she want to humiliate me again?
And then there's the small problem with the damn thing being broken, spinning all the time, burning my arm and all that. I already dread its pain, it's so intense, like nothing I've experienced in my life. Maybe if she takes a look at it, fiddles with those symbols somehow? Should I ask her? I peek at her, trying hard to hide my fear. If only I could tell her to...
But there's no smile in her eyes, only boredom, slight annoyance, her restless fingers tapping on the dreaded sharp axe blade. Not a good time to mess around. Damn, it's never a good time.
I look back at the artifact, measuring it before trying to power it up.
Wait! What the hell is this?!
A single charge remaining? What the fuck? I'm sure I've seen more energy lines this morning. How many? Three? After the hunt, there were three lines, and then... I can't seem to remember, but I'm sure, there should be at least three lines! Where did they go?
I feel cheated!
Yesterday, I couldn't get this thing to start with three charges, and she wants me to do it now with just one?!
It seems so, and there's nothing I can do right now but obey her and hope for the best. And yet my inner thoughts are screaming louder. I'm starting to get sick of her tests and stupid games. I feel slightly betrayed, were all my pain and effort in vain? I raise my arm, feeling for the bracelet's lower mark. A light touch is all it needs, or at least it does when she does it.
A deep breath... focus!
"Tha'aal-nik!" I speak, no, I command!
The sound of my voice thunders and echoes through the large stone hall. My voice seems strange, stronger, more imposing, what changed? A different accent? It feels natural to say the word like this, but I'm sure I didn't use to accentuate the first part.
As expected... nothing... just for a moment... then... slowly... the bracelet starts spinning!
A first rotation to one side, one to the other, and then another back again! Smooth like butter, faster each turn, until finally slowing down and coming to rest, perfectly aligned, just as it should, at the end of its boot-up sequence. Energy flows through the core and powers up the top symbols. They gently light up one after another as the bracelet spreads its rays ahead, forming the status hologram.
Lists flow, unknown symbols flicker and vanish before the giant alien shape takes the center screen filling the air in front of my eyes.
I can't believe it!
It works! It fucking works!
It answered to my command!
Fucking finally!!
I'm thrilled, staring excitedly into the colored void like a child that just unpacked his best toy ever, completely lost for words, not even daring to move or breathe, fearing it might change its mind and shut down before my very eyes. Ahead, the hologram looks the same. Red warning messages all over spread through the alien body, marking all my deficiencies, maybe slightly fewer than before.
Who cares? I started it! I can command it!
It's mine to play with!
As the light screen fades away, I quickly notice Rai'Ze's eyes glowing brightly. I instantly feel a tightening in my stomach! The beast is pinning me down, and she's about to charge!
Why?! I look at her, confused.
But there's no anger in her eyes!
She's smiling, content even, fangs slightly showing, tongue curved licking them satisfied. Yet by now I came to know her, and still brace for impact. The pounce is swift and brutal! She dashes to me before I can blink, wrapping me in her strong arms and lifting me way above the ground. A loving, bone-breaking, flesh-shredding hug.
Can you put me down before you break something inside me? P-please... ? I wish I could say it out loud...
"We drink, we eat, we feast!" she proclaims, releasing me from her strong embrace, allowing for some life to come back to me, just for a moment, before slamming a bone-cracking slap on my back for good measure, leaving me breathless and looking at her walking away satisfied, with her axe on her shoulder, toward the main exit.
"T...thanks..." I mutter silently, gasping.
Weirdly enough, despite the pain, deep inside, I feel quite ecstatic! I'm not sure if it's because of my success with the bracelet or the fact that I survived her encouragement once more. Damn, she's way too strong! I really have to find a way to tell her to be more careful before she rips me apart. Maybe we can have a safe word or something? How about "I'm dying!"? Simple, effective, and easy to remember.
I smile to myself. I couldn't care less about that right now. My mind is set on the bracelet! The raw power! The amazing possibilities! What's a broken rib when you can control such a powerful artifact? I can even use it to heal all my cracked bones after each of her slaps! Oh, I can just imagine it!! Yes, I'm completely euphoric about it, and no amount of back-breaking slaps will take that from me!
Oh, just you wait until I master this thing! I'll be a true wizard of the sands!
Damn! It hurts...
Unfortunately, for now, an annoyingly painful reality requires my full attention, as I still have to recover the classic way, one breath at a time. A few more gasps, and I can walk. A few more, and I can run!
I chase out after her, limping, winded, all happy inside, feeling something thought forever lost.
Hope!
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