Chapter Nine
Renaya heaved a huge shuddering sigh. She felt she needed air. The burden of such a big responsibility weighed down on her conscience. She tapped her armband twice and the large window slid open. She stepped onto the large terrace surrounded by sleek columns that held up the domed ceiling of the huge pavilion.
How could she not help him? If she was the chosen one, as he said, then she had a responsibility. She was important to them, precious. Her grandmother’s words came rolling into her mind and tears welled up in her eyes. The Spirit of this world had welcomed her and asked for her help. She couldn’t just turn away from it. An entire planet would die and she had the chance to save it. She breathed in the air. It was warm, balmy. She looked down from the balcony and saw the warriors training in the yard. Their muscular chests were bare and they wore leather pants. Swords clashed. Lord Aurzac and Shanra were training the others as well as practicing their own fighting moves.
Aurzac looked handsome as ever. What would her life be like if she chose to stay? He would probably never be there for her. He would stay away for months, travelling in space or going to battles.
She recalled her grandma’s words. This was it. The decision she needed to make.
Renaya you must choose wisely...
Her grandmother would have wanted her to make the sacrifice. If she sacrificed herself for him, would he love her the way she wanted to be loved?
She must see him and talk about it with him. She went inside the bedroom and stepped out into the hallway on the other side. She climbed down the large stairs and waited in the grand atrium. Not knowing the way around the palace, she pressed the crest.
“Ayana, please come and meet me in the atrium,” she said.
“Yes, My Lady,” Ayana replied.
Renaya stood in the foyer, admiring the paintings on the wall, when she heard footsteps coming from behind. When she turned, she saw Lady Shanra walking toward her. She wore her battle training suit that revealed a little bit too much of her body, thought Renaya.
She was tall, and she almost towered over Renaya when she stood in front of her. Shanra tilted her head and looked Renaya up and down as her eyes rested on the Aramith. Her expression changed to disgust as her amber eyes grew brighter.
“Human females are so repulsive. I don’t know what Lord Aurzac sees in you,” she hissed. “Look at you. You are an ugly, pathetic, slave woman.”
“I am not a slave anymore,” Renaya defended herself, blood rushing to her cheeks. Why did this woman make her so nervous?
“If you think you can stay here forever then you are mistaken,” Shanra seethed. “When Lord Aurzac is done with you, he’ll forget all about you.” She spat venomously.
“I...I don’t understand. What are you talking about?” Renaya’s head reeled. “Lord Aurzac would do no such thing,” she said, but she knew her voice sounded uncertain.
“Ah, very cute. So you have feelings for him now?” Shanra snapped. “Don’t be mistaken. You don’t even know him. I don’t know what magic you used to ensnare him, but believe me, it won’t last long.”
And with this last tirade, Shanra turned on her heel and strode away.
Renaya’s heart raced. She felt humiliated. What was that all about? She must go and see Aurzac right now. Luckily, Ayana just rounded the corner.
“Oh, thank heavens, you are here. I would like to see Lord Aurzac,” Renaya said.
“My Lady, you have been summoned by the Elder,” Ayana said. “I will take you to him.”
“But I need to talk to Aurzac first,” Renaya insisted.
“He will be there, My Lady,” Ayana said.
They made their way toward the palace gardens and up to the pavilion over the hill. The columns of the pavilion joined together and formed an arch that supported the dome. The floor was octagonal and ivory white. An oval skylight lit up the pavilion. Sunlight filtered in through the stained glass.
They found Lord Aurzac already with the Elder. Ayana waited at the steps. Renaya greeted the Elder with a bow, as she had learned was the custom there. Lord Aurzac came and stood beside her. The Elder took her left hand, on which she wore her grandmother’s ring. Then he took Lord Aurzac’s right hand and held both hands in his own.
All three of them saw the vision.
Aurzac and Renaya were in a barren field. Three drops of blood dripped from Renaya’s finger on the ground. The world changed as it grew bright and peaceful. The fields flourished, flowers bloomed in the gardens, and water filled the rivers. Then suddenly, a dark form appeared in the sky and blocked out the sun. It was a hooded shadow creature that flew down toward them. It grabbed Lord Aurzac and took him into away, leaving Renaya screaming behind. The ground cracked open and swallowed her.
Lord Aurzac’s eyes snapped open and he drew in a sharp breath. Renaya was trembling as the Elder spoke.
“Death will come,” he said. “The planet will heal if Renaya chooses to heal it but the oracle says death will come nonetheless.”
“This cannot be happening!” Lord Aurzac said, his jaw clenched. “We will go to the sacred hall now.” He took Renaya’s hand and pulled her with him.
When they reached the palace, they walked toward the sacred hall.
“What have you decided? Will you help us?” he asked with a determination that intimidated her.
“Yes,” she replied. If this was her destiny, then so be it. Death was inevitable for both of them. At least she would do something good before dying.
“The oracle can be wrong. It may or may not be true,” he explained as if reading her thoughts. “Don’t think about death right now.”
“It’s okay, Aurzac,” she whispered. “I’ll help. I hope I can save you and your planet.” Tears filled her eyes, as realization hit her how painful it would be if she lost him.
They reached the doors that opened to a staircase, leading them down underground. When they reached the base of the stairs, the two doors on their right slid open and they entered a small chamber. They stepped into some sort of an elevator. Lord Aurzac tapped his crest and the elevator moved smoothly. They were going lower and lower until they reached the sacred hall room that housed the lifeline to the core of the planet.
Renaya looked at him sideways. His strong jaw clenched as his hand gripped the hilt of his dagger tightly, turning his knuckles white. Her stomach knotted as she took in his handsome profile, filled with agitation. She turned toward him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Lifting herself up on her toes, and tilting her head she pressed her lips to his. He grabbed her around the waist and deepened the kiss, fervently devouring her.
The doors slid open and they pulled apart. Aurzac stepped into the hall, pulling her with him. It was a big hall with a dome-shaped ceiling, which was lit by a huge chandelier. The hall had strange artifacts, sculptures of unknown beasts lining the walls, paintings of wars on the ceiling.
In the center of the hall was a huge statue of a woman. She sat on a throne with one leg tucked beneath her. She rested her hands on her knees, palms up as if praying or meditating.
“Come with me,” Lord Aurzac said as he walked toward the statue. They climbed up the steps that led to it.
“This statue represents Terrgius’s Spirit,” he told her as they stood in front of it.
Lord Aurzac took out his dagger and unsheathed it. He then cut his thumb and drew blood. He held his thumb over the statue’s palm and three drops of dark blue blood trickled onto it. Then he took her hand and looked into her eyes.
“Ready?” he asked, waiting for her approval.
She nodded. He cut a small sliver into her skin and dark red drops oozed out. He held her hand over the statue’s open palm and drew three drops. The red blood mixed with the blue and it absorbed into the stone. The Aramith turned a bright red around Renaya’s neck.
Next, Aurzac took a small cylindrical device from his pocket. He ran it over the cut in her hand and it healed almost immediately. He did the same with his thumb.
A low rumbling sound reverberated throughout the hall. It sounded like thunder rolling, or a dull beat of drums far away.
“We must leave now,” he said, pulling her with him.
“Did it work?” she asked.
“It will work,” he said and they ran toward the elevator.
The rumbling grew louder as the elevator doors closed. When they exited the elevator again, they went up the stairs to the doors that led outside onto the patio. Hand in hand they walked toward the conference room.