In the fading light of the Agadir day, the red tower of the fallen seemed to glow brighter on the horizon of the desert landscape, forcefully imposing itself on the night sky.
In the main council chambers, three figures sat at a round table facing off at each other. The table could seat 12 comfortably but the figures sat close with no empty chairs between them. A young teenager in the centre set his elbows on the table and listened expressionlessly to the two women on either side of him. The woman to his left was middle-aged but elegant and almost regal but the woman to his right was old with matted hair and a vicious gaze.
"We have waited long enough," the middle-aged woman said in a pleasant voice. "Now that the desert fox has returned to us we must seek to impose our will on the universe. Everyone must know that the dark ones of Agadir have awoken."
The teenager didn't turn his head fully. Instead, he merely observed her with the corner of his gaze.
"We must always act with and learn from our past," the older woman wheezed. "If we move too quickly, the same misfortune may befall us and history repeat itself once again."
"Then what would you suggest?" the middle-aged woman asked. "That we wait? Our leader has returned, he brought with him the Skyforge, What else do we need?"
The older woman scowled harder while glaring at the younger woman then ignored her to face the teenager.
"Your grace, my grandson, I counsel you to find a way to heal our broken planet before any thought of war or conquest," the older woman said. "We were not always a desert-dwelling people. A few centuries ago, we thrived in swampy land and our numbers were in the hundreds of thousands…"
"Those days are long gone," the middle-aged woman said. "The only way to secure the future of our people is to reach out our blades and take what is rightfully ours. We could even take a better more prosperous planet and enslave those who destroyed ours."
"Do you expect them to lie down while we take their planets?" the older woman said. "We do not have the numbers or the ships to challenge them."
"No, we don't have numbers or ships," the younger woman said with a smirk. "We have the desert fox."
"Matriarch Simika. Matriarch Ness. I have listened to you both," the young man said. "I agree with Matriarch Ness that we must become interplanetary and also take revenge on the Krell for their transgressions against us but we do not have the strength...Not yet at least. So I will forge an alliance with the Humans of Earth and revisit the people of Krell once it is the right time."
"I concur. There is much wisdom in your words, your grace." the older woman said. "What do you say, Matriarch Ness?"
Matriarch Ness tried to look unfazed and couldn't help but show a little pout on her lips.
"I must agree with the will of the Fox," she said hesitantly.
"We will take our revenge on the Krell for the evil they have done but at the right time," the young man reiterated this time turning to face the younger Matriarch. "Will you trust me with the pain and suffering that our people have endured, Matriarch Ness?"
He looked deep into her eyes with great resolve and determination which made Matrraiarch Ness's cheeks flush with embarrassment.
"Of course. You are the fox that walks the desert," the younger woman replied as she got up, kissed his hand and lightly touched her forehead to the back of his hand before leaving in a hurry.
Once she was gone the discussion resumed.
"You handled it well," the older woman said. "Looking into her eyes and making her blush was a genius move. You have a real knack for wooing women to your side."
"Thank you," the younger man said. "We have to keep her close to make sure her supporters don't become impatient."
"How goes your combat training?" Matriarch Simika said trying to change the topic of discussion.
"It has stalled a bit. Lukan's skill has fallen far below mine. I need a bigger challenge," he said.
"Then perhaps you're ready to face me," the older woman said.
The young man scoffed and gave a wry smile.
"You're a few hundred years too young to think that you can defeat me," Matriarch Simika said. "You are now the desert fox but before that, you were my grandson and the child of my clan."
"I meant no disrespect, Matriarch, I hesitated because I have concern for your aging hip. Our clan and my parents would put a curse on me if I were responsible for your inability to walk," he said.
"Arm yourself and get ready for me, little Taisen," she said as she got up. A curved blade materialized in her hand.
"You mean here? We're in the council chambers. Should we really do that ...here?" he replied.
"Unless you are too afraid that you'll get beaten up by a blind old woman with a bad hip," she said in a mocking tone,"
"I will mourn your death with all my heart," he replied.
He entered a defensive stance. Right foot forward facing her, left foot sideways. Left-arm close to his chest and his right arm holding his blade in front of his face.
His blade was much longer and straight.
The old lady's stance was aggressive and overly confident. Her blade was in her right hand at her side and she stood with both feet pointed at him.
"You're a cautious one. Boys your age would be eager to show off their skills," the old woman said. "I only wish you would get a curved blade like the rest of us."
"Pride and fear always bring death in combat," he replied calmly. "I can sense your skill even before the battle begins."
"Well said. You are wise to be cautious of me," Matriarch Simika cooed as she leapt forward. "I won the Matriarch position by killing all my opponents."
The young man steadied his blade and sprung to life. Simika leaped over the table and slashed at his head before feinting and going for his legs. Taisen parried her incoming blade and spun away quickly, moving out of range before she could string together another attack. His maturity and level-headedness were evident in the way he adeptly utilized the shortness of the Matriarch's blade to his advantage.
The matriarch picked up a bronze bowl that had been sitting on the round table and hurled it towards his right flank while at the same time diving forward into a somersault that brought her close enough to strike at his left side.
Taisen easily repelled both threats, he released the second of his double blades spinning and slicing the bowl in half as he pivoted just enough for the Matriarch's blade to miss his side by a quarter of an inch. He shoved her hard in the side as she rolled away, a move surely not made to disable her but to goad her into further aggression.
When two skilled fighters engaged each other in combat, their blades move so quickly that it is impossible to think and react to each move. Taisen had been taught to rely on instinct guided by his spirit and honed by thousands of hours of training in the martial forms as well as the thousands of hours of real combat from his previous life.
In only a few moments of battle, he had already evaluated his opponent, noting her incredible speed, agility, and technique which were absurd for a woman her age. Matriarch Simika was very good but Taisen knew that he was much better.
As if coming to the same realization, she sheathed her blade and conceded defeat. "You truly are the desert fox," she said. "I would've been killed if I attacked once more."
"I wouldn't have killed you," Taisen said. "I would've just wounded you enough to prove a point."
At that moment, a hooded figure entered the room and bowed low. "My Lord, your guests have arrived."
Taisen smiled. "Bring them to me."