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Kalon
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Chapter Forty: Dun Eka Zarae
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Beneath the planet's surface, Naro City, Near Yul Clan Assembly Hall, Walkways of the outer city
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Emotion has left my heart that swells with the Netheric Maka’s hum. Wrath guides my blades. Madness springs from my hands as I slide my blade into a man’s chest between the gaps in his armor. He screams to his gods who are deaf to his suffering. Stripping from him the Etherium he carries as he falls, I move to the next. They are all fleeing, stampeding over each other, crushing each other underfoot. The darkness cradles me in its embrace as I feel the Netheric Maka surging inside of me. It burns every cell of my body, fueling my strength. All I can hear now is the chant.
Embrace the Abyss
I can see now more clearly the shape of people’s bodies by the Maka they hold. Lights flicker off the further I move down into the enemy lines, enshrouding them in darkness. Bringing them into my domain. I can feel the fear erupting from them as they shout calling me demon in the old tongue. More and more of them are gripping their sacred pendants, calling to deaf ears with their prayers.
I have so many shards now, yet my legs do not turn to retreat, they press forward until I remember… Arrum. He needs me, he needs the shards.
Something else is stirring in me now, something that battles against the feeling of power. An uneasiness, like I am being stretched thin. I can feel the power slipping, my body of flesh is failing… My hand clutches my belly as I begin spewing black bile onto the ground. It bubbles like the Shulka’s body did. Am I rejecting the changing? How? Whatever it is, I do not have long. My eyes blur as my legs stumble. I should go back now, I have many shards of Etherium. Why have I lingered?
Embrace the Abyss
My legs stir to move forward, I pull at them to move backward. The feeling of uneasiness rises to greater heights as I spew more black bile onto the ground. I need to retreat. I think I am losing control. Stumbling backward now, toward where my Clan is, I see the shriekers between me and them clearly, their bodies outlined in hazy red energy. They do not try to stop me as I move, they move away warily. As they look upon me, they grow silent, tilting their heads to the side strangely.
Nausea sends me to my knees just before I reach my Clan. Deep black ooze falls from my lips onto the ground. Weakness begins filling my body. I toss the bounty of Etherium Shards at Nekam’s feet. My eyes give him a look of defiance before my head slams to the ground. The Realm of Dreams calls me with a fury as it pulls me to it.
***
Realm of Dreams
***
The air is thick and gales in every direction. The endless sea forms mountainous waves of red water churning with blue. Everything hurts, everything feels wrong, like I am being split in two. There is no reprieve from the pain, it intensifies each time the waves crash against me, sending me deep beneath the surface. The storm clouds boom, blue and red lightning streak angrily in the sky. This is how I am to die… ripped apart by Maka. There are worse ways to go. I brought Nekam enough shards for many, so many I have little doubt Arrum will be helped. Yet, the doubt that I do have, keeps me from succumbing to the forces around me.
As the world crashes, memories flow across my thoughts. Memories of better days. They give me strength against the pain. As I embrace the peace of them, the world begins to slow. Until it is entirely still, like a moment trapped in time, the waves no longer crash, they hang motionless. There is light in the distance, coming from behind the darkness of the clouds. A figure appears from it, a being of some kind, swathed in the light. Its voice shakes the fabric of the dream world.
Dun Eka Zarae
Energy pulses from it as time returns to its normal flow and the waves come crashing down, settling. The being speaks louder this time, its voice shakes me to the core of my being, laying me bare before it. I know the voice, it is the one from my other dreams. The one that guides me towards the black box and the woman with horns. Who is she? Why do I dream of this? Why does this being swathed in light wish for me to find her?
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Dun Eka Zarae
The meaning of the words flows through me. Seek them and find Destiny. What does it mean though? A dream is a dream, nothing more. I feel the pull of reality calling me swiftly. If I were not worried for Arrum, I would fight against it and learn the secrets of this being swathed in light. Dream or not, it is strange.
***
Realm of Reality
***
My eyes open wearily, I am in the Clan Chief’s chambers. My body is so sore I can scarcely breathe. As my eyes adjust to the light, I hear voices near me that I recognize.
“We should sell him. Imagine the price he would give.” Dekarn says scratching his beard “I have never seen anyone channel Netheric Maka and not become a Shulka, surely he is worth something.”
“We need Etherium desperately, look at our Clan.” Another says, then pointing to me “Instead of selling him, we should use him to go into the depths of the mines, striking the richer veins. He could go to the deep tunnels, deeper than any have gone before.”
“He is a person, not a tool, we should not sell him.” Yuri says firmly, pounding his hand on the table “Do your warriors not go home to their children this night because he forced the enemy to retreat?”
“He is Ulima, his place is to serve the Clan. Do not be soft.” Dekarn says, spitting on the floor.
“Then give back the Etherium he won, you greedy…” Yuri begins, but Nekam interrupts him.
“Enough, there has been too much blood this day. We do not need to spill each other’s,” he says.
They do not seem to realize I am awake. My eyes look down at my wrists, tight metal chains upon them. I can feel my legs are chained as well. So, this is my fate now? Were I not so weary, I would be angry. Yet, I should have expected as much. It is what the Sage feared would happen if people saw my truth. Did he know the depths of my truth though I wonder, how much did he hide from me?
“Arrum?” I ask loud enough for them to hear, my voice is hoarse.
The other chiefs stir, jumping from their seats and staring back at me.
“He lives.” Yuri says, then looking to the others “So do many others, thanks to him.”
“Thank you,” I say, laying my head against the cold floor. That relief is enough for me to find sleep again while they argue about how to use me. Vek them all. Besides Yuri, he at least spoke for me. A kindness I will not forget. When I was younger, I remember he used to seek the Sage’s guidance. More than most.
***
My eyes open again, I don’t know how many hours have passed, but I am still chained. It would appear that Yuri did not win the argument. There is bitterness in me as I sit up slowly against the weight of the metal on my body. Nekam is across the room, his hand pulls at his beard as he stares at the wall.
“So, what is my fate?” I ask, purposefully not giving him respect by addressing him as my chief. He stopped being so when he abandoned Arrum and chained me for giving him victory. Now he is just another boot upon my neck.
“Sold,” Nekam says with a long sigh.
The word stings in my ears, but it does not surprise me. He is practical and the others seem to think I have some kind of value. There is a gripping pain in my chest that I do not think is caused by my injuries.
“What of Arrum?” I ask, I do not hide my bitterness.
“I will tell him you died in battle. So will the others who know the truth.” Nekam says, then looking towards the ceiling he finishes “I will remove the Ulima from his name. All of the tribe chiefs have been made aware. We wait for him to awaken.”
My jaw clenches, at least Arrum will not throw his life away searching for me. There is some good in that at least. There is some doubt in me that Nekam will honor his word. Looking at my chains, I wonder if he understands the meaning of the word itself. If Arrum does get the stain of Ulima removed, he might be able to seek Isola’s hand. There is joy in me for this, despite my doubts. Though it is hard to feel it fully with the crushing weight of my reality.
“The brothers?” I ask.
“The expedition team was caught and sold by the Junuk Clan to the Arasha. I do not know their fates beyond that.” He says, hanging his head low.
Guilt and anger rise in me. They did not deserve such a fate. Likely they are doomed. Though I did not know them long, grief sinks into my heart. Their only crime was trying to be honorable and help Arrum and me.
Letting out a long sigh, I form my next question. Though its answer does not truly matter.
“What was my price?” I ask him. Wishing to know how little I meant to him.
“The price was one I could not refuse,” Nekam says, his gaze does not meet my eyes still. There is shame written upon his face.
Turning my head from him, I roll toward the wall. Finding more interest in its peeling paint than looking at him. The betrayal etches itself across me, but I will not show it. He does not deserve to see me weep, what is left of my pride will not allow it. Spite fills my tongue next.
“I tell you of your son’s betrayal.” I say, biting back the anger “Soon after I am sold. You already show yourself to be like Barnak. I can only hope the Clan does not fail because of you.”
He does not reply. We are left in silence for some time.
“Are you proud of what your hands have wrought oh mighty chief?” I ask, glancing at him for a moment.
“No,” he says, there is defeat in his tone that surprises me. His head is held low, his eyes hollow like a dead man’s.
He does not look at me still. My jaw flexes as I turn back to the wall.
“You were to be my replacement. Now, because of my failings, you…”
He stops as he hears a pounding on the door.
“Enter,” Nekam says loudly.
“It is time, my chief,” Yuri says.
“Understood,” Nekam says.
I hear the shuffling of boots all around me. Hands grabbing me, I am too weary to resist. There is little hope in my bones anyway. Arrum is safe, my goal is accomplished. There is pride in that. Contentment even. The hands pull me to my feet, I make them hold me up, I do not want them to feel I have the strength to stand on my own. Even if I despise Nekam, the lessons he taught should not be discarded so easily… unlike me. My heart twists as I pass by Nevari and her grandmother. Their eyes do not even look upon me. After everything, they do not even give me this.
“Vekka,” I say as they drag me past Nevari. One of the chiefs strikes me firmly in the stomach for the word, but there is no regret for saying it.
A single tear begins to roll down her cheek, yet still she does not speak. As though it is nothing to see me dragged to my fate. My head shakes, I was a fool to ever let her into my heart.
“Be strong. Do not show them fear.” Yuri says quietly, looking me in the eyes, he is the only one so far that has.
Yuri pats me on the shoulder, embracing my shackled arm, something is strange though… I feel him place something in my pocket as he pulls back his arm. He gives me a strange nod after. I can’t tell what it is yet, but I don’t want to draw attention to it. Perhaps he means to help me somehow.
My eyes move towards Nevari, the girl who once held my heart, her eyes glisten and glow, but she says nothing as they bind my mouth and shove me into a large bag. Two men on each side carry me. My vision is now obscured from view as they take me into the Clan hall as though I am garbage to be disposed of. I want to call out for Arrum, but I do not want him to throw his life away aimlessly searching for me in vain. If he defies them, he will stay Ulima. It is better this way. I was the reason he became Ulima again, with me gone… with me gone, perhaps he will thrive. I must be strong. There is too much for him to lose, I will not be the reason he suffers again.