It's the next day. Lahí left sometime during the night, but she left the cream behind with instructions on how to use it. I have Jahní cradled in my arms, as she sleeps I don't even want to put her down. They should have beaten me; I would die for her.
The door open and a guard walks in with a tray of food, and Jahní stirs opening her eyes at the sound. He stands there staring at us, without compassion or sympathy. I feel hate towards this guard and he smiles. "You're an animal just like they say. A wild beast and his Tokta, that should be put down."
I look at him not knowing what he just said, Jahní's reaction is enough to have me filled with even more hatred for this guard with every fiber of my bing. "One day, I'm going to make eat those words." He looks at me unmoved chuckling as he leaves closing the door behind him.
I hear a loud slap outside and once agian the door opens and the same guard walks in followed by Lahí. She then savagely kicks him in the gut. "Apologize!" He straightens himself again, but he's tight lipped. This time she spins landing her heal in his gut causing him to go on his knees. She draws her sword as fast as Jahní did, but stops with the blade at his neck!
"I said apologies or you will not see the evening. You forget yourself and your place here, as you serve at our pleasure." The fear is eveident from the way he's sweating.
I help Jahní up onto her feet she is still weak, and she has a hand on her protectively in her belly. "Lahí please, allow him to stand."
Lahí frowns a bit. "Did you hear what he called you! I should take his head for that!" Jahní looks at her sister and there's a battle of wills between them. In the end Lahí relents. "You should count yourself fortunate that my sister has a kind heart you PALTUKA!"
I have no idea what she said, but I liked it. The guard gets back on His feet, though Lahí doesn't sheath her sword; he wearily watches her from the corner of his eye.
"What do you have to say? Not so much to me as to the Captain, who is more innocent here than I." I look at her not quite understanding what she means.
"He doesn't know our laws or customs, so he should not be attacked by you. I did what I did for love and I knew that it would lead to this."
"I take the full burden of the crime, you will not harm him in any way." She extends her hand to Lahí and she relinquishes her sword. Jahní now puts the point of it on his chest. "You tell your fellow guardsmen that if they have a problem with this we can meet in the field. TEH-HATMAT COHANTU!"
The guards eyes open wide and he inclines his head to Jahní and to Lahí then to me. He turns smartly and walks out of the room closing the door.
Lahí has a proud look on her face, as Jahní hands her back her sword. "What did you tell him." I ask.
Jahní puts a hand on my face smiling. "First I love you. I invoke an ancient right that even those who are banished can use and cannot be denied."
"So, what did you say?" She looks at me not able to say what that means.
"She invoked the blood trial ." Jahní looks at her sister as if she gave away some military secret. "You love him do you not? Then you can't keep this a secret from him. He is Your pledged!"
Jahní gazes at me tenderly. "You are right Lahí I can not keep it from him." She leans close to me and I put an arm around her. "The blood trial is a challenge to any who want to test their skills with mine." I don't know if I like the sound of that. "Don't worry this will not happen, for I am still a member of the royal family."
"The mere threat is enough to stop the nonsense of those in the palace." Lahí says. I relax a bit knowing that she is not in any immediate danger.
I look at her since I'm out my element here, I have no footing. One wrong step and it could be bad for Jahní. "Ok. This is your home, your people; I have no choice, but to trust that you know what you're doing."
Jahní puts her forehead to mine. "This child will strong and he will be our first, for I will give you as many children as we will be blessed with." She says in that tone, which I understand her point.
Lahí clears her throat causing us to stop. I look at her feeling my face get hot with embarrassment. "Sorry Lahí." I incline my head, though she smiles.
"Oh. Father is coming to speak with both of you." She informs us. "He and I spoke at length this morning, since I went to confront him."
Jahní reaches for the bed; I lend her my arm helping her to sit down. "What did he say?" She asks
"I would rather let him explain it, for I'm sure he would do a better job." I can see her point and it's probably the best way to know what's on the King's mind.
Lahí pulls out a small device that resembles a clock. She smiles more to herself. "I have to be on my way, but I think that you should listen to what Father has to say. I believe it will work out well." With that she turns and leaves shutting the door behind her.
I shake my head at how the Majah-tu treat life. They can be so friendly and at the same time they have the eyes of killers. Well, least the Warrior cast does. Once I met Jahní I knew it would be difficult, so I need to tighten my belt and make sure that my sack has some weight.
"What are you thinking." I turn to Jahní. She is studying my troubled face.
"Don't mind me I'm just speculating to much, that's all." She starts to play with my ear lobe, I'm smiling at this because it tickles making me relax in some ways, not in others. I take her hand and I kiss her fingers, then I move to her hand and I try to be careful as I gently move up her arm.
There's a knock on the door that is just bad timing. "Come in." Jahní calls out, as we straighten ourselves.
The King walks in dressed in that black uniform, and let me tell you he has no idea how I want to jump up to pound him into the ground. However, I am aware that he is my Father in Law; also Jahní probably wouldn't appreciate my doing it.
He observes his daughter in detail. "How are you my child?" He asks.
She looks at him and a small tremble goes down her body. THAT'S IT! "How do you think she feels!" I speak forcefully. "You had those thug guards beat the snot out of her, and then you come here and ask her how she FEELS!" Jahní puts a gentle but firm hand on my arm; looking at her I regain my composure.
The King turns those brutal silver eyes of his in my direction, but I don't give a damn. He can glower at me all day long, because I'll do the same right back. He smiles. "Captain, you have always shown some civility, though it seems that you do have a passionate wild side." He watches me as all kinds of emotions play on my face.
"I find it refreshing." He finally says. He grabs a chair bringing it over towards us sitting down crossing his legs. That's when I notice he has a book with him. It's bound in black worn out leather. "Though I did not come here to fight. On the contrary I came to offer a solution I think we can all live with."
"What do have in mind Lord Father?" Jahní asks.
"Well, first Captain you don't know the problem you have created. I understand that you love my daughter and she loves you." He lets out a loud breath. "Jahní was to follow me to the throne. Now that right will pass on to my son, who is to attached to his very bad habits."
"What does that have to do with what happened yesterday?" I ask still not happy. Jahní squeezes my hand and I calm down again.
"I understand this my Lord Father, but it doesn't change anything. I am pledged to Antonio and have been stripped of everything." Her Father frowns looking down at the book he brought with him.
He runs his finger over it then he opens it thumbing through the pages. "This book is the secret book of prophecy, that only the Kings may view." He gets to a particular point in the book.
"It has been passed down from one king to the next for generations." He hands it to Jahní. "You see I knew you were coming Captain. I thought I could change the out come, but it seems that it was a foolish gesture on my part."
I can't read it but I can see the drawn image of me with Earth behind me and fleets of ships leaving for space. Jahní flips the page and there is a drawing of the red army with a shadowy figure in the back ground, who's face is in darkness. No way to know his possible identity.
As I'm looking at the book my vision blurs and suddenly I'm floating in space. I can see many planets before me in an unending number. Then I watch as each one erupts being consumed by a crimson colored flame. They are planets that are teaming with life and after the flame dies out they are left desolate.
I shout in horror as each one goes up in flames and the inhabitants are consumed; men, women, children, young and old there is no mercy. Then when I look down I'm standing in a field, but when I walk the ground crunches; that's when I realize that the ground is the skeletal remains of billions of beings. I look around behind me and there is an army in red armor, all in the act of kneeling before me.
This can't be. I did this? No I can't accept this! I hear crunching behind me and Jahní is standing next to me holding a babe in her arms and three more young children behind her. She is waring a red robe. She looks at me with love in her eyes. I turn and watch as the flame spreads across the galaxy.
Despair rises in my heart. I don't want this! No.
No! NOOOOO!
"Antonio!" I hear Jahní's voice from the depth of my mind at first it is far, but then it becomes clear. "Antonio!" I open my eyes and I'm on the ground I feel exhausted. "Thank the Creator your back!" Her eyes filled with fear and worry, with tears steaming down her face.
The King is kneeling next to me studying my face. He seems to know something. "What did you see Captain?" God, where do I start?