Dear Reader, Sorry about the delay. Lots going on these past two weeks. Anyway, here's the next installment. The temple is meant to invoke thoughts of Egypt - Karnac or Luxor. Egypt is one of my favorite places in the world! Enjoy. Peace, TK

Chapter 26 Opal Diem

"Each day has its always.
Here, look down life's hallways.
Doorways to lead you there."

Have You Heard
Mike Pinder

Yumichika pulled himself up into a long, narrow vehicle that was more like a trailer than a carriage. It had a hard top and walls and two rows of sumptuously padded benches, one along each wall. There was enough room at the end of the benches for three more men to squeeze in.

Yumichika went in first and found himself sitting across from Machal.

The same Machal who had been bound up in the corner for weeks on end.

It was Yumichika's first good look at the man, his first time even being in his company for more than a passing moment.

And it was disconcerting.

Machal was attractive with features that marked him as coming from the Mongol region of the living world. He had dark wide-set narrow eyes that were not quite Asian. His skin was brown with a slight peach tint, glowing and radiant. He wore his black hair short and spiky in front and pulled into a sort of bobtail in back. His body, fully bare from the waist up, was well-muscled and smooth. He had intricate designs painted on his chest and shoulders, in gold and pressed with tiny, sparkling jewels.

Yet, despite his pleasant appearance, he had an unsettling aura about him that almost made Yumichika ask to return to the carriage conveying Lamos.

Machal stared. Without blinking. Without speaking. Without moving.

Even when Yumichika broke his own gaze, turning to Supho on some pretense, he could still feel Machal's eyes boring into him.

"At least, he's staring at my face," Yumichika thought ruefully, "Given the other things on display he could be staring at." At length, he lowered his voice and leaned close to Supho. "What's wrong with him? Why does he keep staring at me like that?"

But Yumichika must not have spoken softly enough, for it was Machal who answered.

"I'm staring at you cause I'm thinking . . . how much fun I could have with you in the corner."

"That will never happen," Yumichika sneered.

"Oh, oh . . . I know you're the new favorite, but that doesn't mean the Orator's thrown the rest of us overboard," Machal replied in a sing-song voice. "He loves putting us in the corner. Why wouldn't he like putting you there? And maybe letting the rest of us have some fun with you at the same time?"

"Don't be disgusting, Machal," Pincot interjected in a voice that pointed out the absurdity of such a suggestion. "The mere thought of doing anything with you would be enough to send the others running for the hills. The only one who shares the same appetite as you for that degree of . . . fun . . . is the Orator himself."

"A man can learn to like it." Machal's inflection and manner were suggestive. "A man can learn to love it." He leaned forward across the aisle. "I could teach you."

Beside Machal, Pincot straight-armed him and pressed him back. "Not so close." A pause. "You know Nelphune would tear you apart if you lay a hand on him. He's off-limits."

A bubbling, eager gleam came into Machal's eye. "I know. That's what makes it so . . . tantalizing. The risk of getting caught . . . "

"Idiot," Pincot scoffed. He looked at Yumichika and Supho. "I should have chosen a different carriage."

"It's alright," Yumichika said quietly. "I'm getting used to the fact that virtually every bedmate is disgusting and crude and perverted." He cast a meaningful glance at Supho. "I'm learning a lot."

Ikkaku was astonished.

A two-and-a-half hour ride to the north of the city had brought him to the gates of the most impressive structure he had ever seen.

Regent Kennah's estate had as its center, a palace of god-like proportions. The outer walls of gold and silver leaf gleamed red, orange and yellow in the rays of the setting sun. At least a dozen minarets reached up to the sky like needles aiming for the heavens. Every window was of colored glass and ridged metal design. A reflecting pool with stunning gold-colored marble walls stretched out before the palace, mirroring the structure in perfect stillness in the windless evening air. Ornamental gardens spread from the pool out beyond the edges of the palace, giving way at a distance to lines of finely cultivated trees and shrubs.

There was nothing subtle about the estate. Every aspect was meant to draw attention, to command awe, to leave the viewer with an unquestioned sense of the power of the owner of such a magnificent residence.

"This, uh, this is some place," he remarked as he approached in the junket—a bare-bones carriage of sorts with a high-clearance front and back seat, each capable of holding no more than two men. Uncovered and without padding, it was utilitarian and primary driven only by the house guard, pulled by one horse—the kind of animal with power and speed.

Ikkaku sat in front with Dunkip, who had the reins, while Hlayma sat casually in the back seat. It was just the three of them. No other men had been hired as guards; and listening to the conversation as they'd travelled, Ikkaku learned that, other than the one replacement they'd been looking for, they had not intended to buy any others. In fact, they'd been close to abandoning the search altogether for that day until the moment Ikkaku had approached them. None of the other men had appealed to them as the kind of man required for the job. Ikkaku's cockiness had been the thing that had made him stand out.

"The Regent likes to flaunt his position," Hlayma stated. "He wants everyone to know who's in charge."

"You said on the ride here that he's the ruler of the province," Ikkaku said. "How big is the province?"

"Everything between here and the Sepes River, six hundred miles east. As far north as the great desert, and as far south as the red lands."

"What are the red lands?" Ikkaku asked.

"A long series of canyons and natural mazes. It's called the red land because the ground is red," Hlayma replied.

"And because it's soaked with the blood of those who have tried to make it through the canyons," Dunkip added. "Travellers get lost in the mazes and die."

"It's a tricky place," Hlayma admitted. "I prefer to keep my distance."

Ikkaku returned to the original topic. "It sounds like a lot of land and people to keep under control."

Hlayma smiled, unseen, behind Ikkaku, yet Ikkaku could hear the humor in his voice.

"I'm not sure I'd say they're under control," he said. "I think the Regent enjoys a certain degree of lawlessness." A pause. "Which makes life more difficult for us, but it keeps things interesting."

"That's one way to look at it," Dunkip added. "I think Lord Kennah just likes to see other people struggling in chaos."

"He sounds like a bastard," Ikkaku stated bluntly. "Do I want to work for this guy?"

"Maybe, maybe not," Hlayma replied. "You'll have one month to figure it out – unless we give you the ax first." He was silent for a moment, then spoke with consideration. "I won't hide the truth: he can be difficult to deal with—"

"Very difficult," Dunkip interjected.

"Very difficult," Hlayma agreed. "But the rewards make up for any . . . unpleasantness."

"Unpleasantness? That's a slick word to use," Ikkaku challenged. "What kinds of unpleasantness?"

"You'll have to be the judge of that yourself," Hlayma replied. "We don't want to prejudice you. After all, one man's disgust is another man's delight."

Ikkaku chewed on those words as the carriage drew up in front of the palace then passed it on the left, coming eventually to a grouping of stunningly beautiful outbuildings. They were the house guard barracks, and they appeared like jewels nestled against the deepening tan of the desert sand in the sunset.

They entered a courtyard, where they were met by an eager young stable boy and an older man in his mid-thirties, dressed in uniform.

"Captain Hlayma," the man greeted him with a respectful nod of his head. "Lieutenant Dunkip. Glad you made it safely back."

"All quiet, Lodge?" Hlayma asked, stepping down from the carriage.

"Silent as the tomb," the man replied. He looked curiously at the new arrival. "You found a replacement for Keemwa. Who's this?"

"Harsho Otomacki. And he's all yours for training," Hlayma replied, then he looked at Ikkaku. "I'll be back from Opal Diem in five days. We'll see how you're coming along. In the meantime, meet Sergeant Lodge. He'll look after you."

Yumichika stepped down from the carriage and stood looking at an entrance way the likes of which made even the senkaimon gates look like poor men's thresholds. The Great Portal was as wide as a boulevard, with the outline of an obelisk. Its doors, made of gold-leaf over wood and open at the moment, were in parts: upper and lower. The lower doors could be closed, and upon the top of the door ran a ledge that, when the doors were closed, joined up with a walkway on the interior of the temple, thirty yards above the floor and accessible through two small doors in the upper halves.

The temple itself was made of great stone blocks, each as tall—or taller—than a man. Other than the ornate door, the exterior of the temple was simple and unadorned.

Yumichika looked at the throngs of souldom streaming through the entrance, and he was admittedly impressed.

Pincot spoke at his elbow. "You'll enter with Nelphune. His carriage will be the last in our caravan." He lowered his voice. "Supho tells me you want to make sure you're not selected."

"Yes," Yumichika replied. "I can't bear the thought of going through with that."

Pincot chuckled. "You have sex with dozens of men daily, and this bothers you?"

"None of the men I have sex with die afterwards," Yumichika said. "And believe me, if I had the choice, I wouldn't be having sex with those dozens either."

"You know the Orator will be outraged if you're not chosen."

"I'll take the risk."

Pincot nodded. "Well, I'm on your side."

Yumichika glanced at Supho, who was ushering the other occupants of the carriage towards Damir, who was organizing them into a sizeable harem, awaiting the arrival of the Orator.

"I just don't want you or Supho to get in trouble," he said quietly.

"Don't worry," Pincot assured him. "We can handle it."

At last, after nearly thirty minutes, Nelphune's carriage pulled in front of the gates.

When the Orator exited the carriage, Yumichika felt a chill run up his spine.

Nelphune looked like midnight clothed in the midday sun. The black sheen of his skin was outshone only by the gold vestments he wore. The gold earrings, the gold headdress adorned with exotic bird feathers, the gold bangles on bare arms and wrists: all conspired to produce a vision of majesty and glory.

Yumichika had never given much consideration to Nelphune as being beautiful; but at that moment, there was no question. The man was dazzling.

For a fleeting instant, the thought of Ruri'iro Kujaku flashed through Yumichika's mind.

But then Nelphune spoke, and Yumichika's attention was focused on him.

"Where are my precious gems?"

Damir stepped forward and presented Lamos. "My Lord."

Nelphune ran his hand over Lamos's naked shoulder and smiled at him. Then he looked back to Damir. "Where is Yumichika? You should have had him here and waiting for me."

"My Lord, I thought you might prefer—" Damir began, but that was as far as he got.

Yumichika, standing off to the side, decided that now would be a good time to get into the part.

"Here I am, my Lord," he interrupted, stepping forwarding and nudging Damir to the side. "No one told me I should be waiting for you, or I never would have been caught unaware." He cast a meaningful look at Damir as he said these words.

"No harm done, pretty peacock," Nelphune replied in his rumbling bass. He held out his right arm, which Yumichika took; and then his left arm, which Lamos took.

"Let us enter and show the rest of the province what true beauty is," Nelphune crowed. "I fully expect one of you to be chosen as the Shekkeln."

They passed through the portal into the largest interior structure Yumichika had ever seen.

The outer sanctuary was at least three hundred yards wide and half that distance deep. The ceiling was bee-hived shaped and rose at least a hundred yards overhead at its apex. The walls were of stone, just as they appeared on the outside, and there were four banks of balustraded walks, running the entire way around the convex walls at various heights.

The Grand Portal entrance came in at the top of a wide staircase overlooking the sanctuary floor, which was made of stone and worn smooth. Directly across, another staircase rose up to a smaller, although equally grand, doorway. Through the open doors, Yumichika could see candles burning, and he assumed the room was the inner sanctuary of the temple.

Already, thousands of pilgrims were present and engaged in whatever activities their pilgrimage warranted or necessitated. They were from all walks of life, much like the milling crowds through which the caravan had passed outside the temple, for the outer grounds had been set up with tents, large and small, meant to accommodate the masses. From what Yumichika had seen so far, there had to be close to 20,000 people already gathered.

And it was only the first day.

Immediately inside the Great Portal, Nelphune's party was met by a man clearly in the employ of temple. Yumichika surmised he must be a priest, for there were several dozen men dressed and coiffed in the same manner standing just inside the doorway – greeters and escorts. They all wore a long black cotton sheath that covered them from the waist down in front and back, leaving the sides of their legs bare and visible. On top, they wore vests of the same black material, but trimmed with different color feathers or fur around the neck, open across the chest and leaving the arms uncovered. Every man's hair was shaved across the top, giving them each a bald dome, upon which were tattooed various symbols that Yumichika did not recognize. The remaining hair was long and gathered into two dangling curls that hung down both sides of the face. They all wore a gold ring through their lower lip, each with a jewel matching the color of the trim on their vests.

"Lord Orator Nelphune," the man greeted them with a flourish of open arms. "The High Priest will be so happy to see you. Your place of honor is reserved. I will take you."

At the level upon which they had entered, there was a walkway that followed the wall in both directions. The priest-escort led the way to the right. Yumichika noticed right away that almost every eye in the place—at least those close enough for him to see—were on Nelphune's party.

They must have been quite a sight. A gold-glad god-like figure, trailed by a harem of men, flanked by two of the most stunning of all the bedmates in the province, and protected by a house guard that looked and acted more like a military unit than a residential security force. No wonder they were the focus of attention.

Yumichika met what eyes he could, sniffed disdainfully, tossed his head like an irritated horse, and oozed the arrogance that came so naturally to him.

Meanwhile, on Nelphune's left, Lamos did just the opposite. Oh, he established eye contact; but he was all smiles and provocative winks, rubbing the Orator's arm in sensuous sight of the onlookers. He knew who his competition was, and if he hoped to defeat Yumichika, he would need to turn on the charm and turn it on early.

Near the end of the wall, they came to a staircase up to the first level. After a short distance along the walkway, they came to a large open room with furnishings fit for a king. It was more private than had been the alcove at Councilman Lutan's estate, but it was still open enough to grant easy coming and going.

"I will leave you here, Lord Orator Nelphune," the priest said. "You know the rooms for your bedmates. I will tell High Priest Meckkat you are arrived."

"I will be waiting," Nelphune replied, then to Damir. "Show them."

Just past the room was a corridor, and down the length of the corridor were one hundred rooms, small and utilitarian, but not unpleasant. Each contained a mattress of the finest quality, with linens that even Nelphune would find reason to envy. There was also a small lacquered schrunk for clothes, an incensor and incense, and a candle holder with replacement tapers. At the end of the hall, down a short few steps, was a large, open bay shower room and toilets.

Off of the main room, there were two more rooms, larger than those in the corridor, with more furnishings and even some décor.

These rooms were for Yumichika and Lamos.

"This is where you will entertain, if called upon to do so prior to the selection being made," Nelphune informed. "But you are to gain my approval before taking anyone." He looked at Pincot and Supho. "You will both ensure that Yumichika does not violate my rules."

"Yes, my Lord," Pincot replied smartly.

Lamos headed for one of the rooms, but Nelphune stopped him. "No, Lamos. You take the lesser room."

Lamos turned and faced the Orator, and the shock and bewilderment were clear on his face. "But I—I always take this room, my Lord."

"Not this time," Nelphune replied. "This time, you take the lesser room. Yumichika takes the greater."

An awkward silence ensured. For a moment, Yumichika, seeing the distress and unhappiness on Lamos's face, almost felt sorry for him. But that would not be seemly.

"You heard him, Lamos," he said, edging between him and the door to the room. "You take the lesser."

Lamos was plaintive. "But—but my Lord, I . . . this . . . "

Nelphune stood before him in three strides. "I see you need reassurance. That is unlike you, Lamos." He put his hand on the young man's cheek. "It is very attractive." With that, he picked him up with one arm and carried him into the lesser room, closing the door behind them.

"Well, looks like that'll keep the Orator busy for a little while," Pincot grimaced. He looked at Captain Campion, standing outside the room close to the balustrade. "Captain, should we wait until he's finished or take Yumichika out to . . . socialize?"

Yumichika watched with interest as Campion appeared to struggle with answering the question. It wasn't as if he could not decide upon an answer; it was more as if he were preoccupied and did not care about the question. At length, he replied, "Stay here with him. When the High Priest comes, Yumichika and Lamos will both need to be here. If he shows up while the Orator is still in there, invite him to sit and wait until the Orator is finished."

"He might even want to join him," Pincot quipped, drawing a scowl from Campion.

Pincot immediately colored. "I'm sorry, Captain. That was . . . inappropriate."

"There's no need to apologize, Pincot," Campion assured him. "This place—this . . . celebration—makes fools of us all." A pause. "I will return shortly." With that, he was off towards the stairs.

"That was a stupid thing to say, Pincot," Supho chastised as soon as Campion was gone.

"I know, I know," Pincot moaned. "Sometimes, I forget . . . " He shook his head. "The captain's right. This place does make us all act like fools."

"Well, we can't afford to act like fools," Supho warned. He turned to see Yumichika inside the greater room, looking at its contents. "Especially if we want to keep Yumichika from being selected—"

"You know who will be selected if Yumichika isn't," Pincot interrupted.

"I know. But it's been that way for years. That wouldn't come as a shock to anyone." A pause, "Besides, Lamos likes it. Yumichika would hate it."

"Well then, let's do something about it."

Supho eyed Pincot curiously. "You know, you surprise me, Pincot. You're usually much more by-the-book than this. You've been taking a lot of chances since being assigned to Yumichika."

"I guess it looks that way, doesn't it?" Pincot replied with a smile of consideration. "You know, I don't know why, but for the first time, I actually have some sympathy for a bedmate. Huh, what do you think of that? I can't explain it, but I know . . . he's not meant for this kind of existence, and it's so disgusting that you have to . . . you have to inject some humor into it, or you'd go mad."

"I know exactly what you mean," Supho nodded.

"So, let's go help him be despicable."

The two men turned and walked into the greater room.

"Wow, it's just as I remembered it," Jubal said with an appreciative air as he and Creega entered the temple's main sanctuary.

"Why should it change?" Creega asked lightly. "It's not as if anything else has changed in the past sixty years."

"Whew, I'll tell you one other thing that hasn't changed: the food! I can smell it from here!" Jubal proclaimed enthusiastically. "Let's get something to eat, and then we can stroll around a bit. I'm curious about who's under consideration for Shekkeln."

"You remember Lamos?"

Jubal remembered him very well. The mention of his name made the covert Shinigami feel a sense of sadness. "Yeah, I remember him."

"Well, he's been chosen every year for the past—damn, I don't even know, it's been for so long now," Creega said. "But I think that's about to change."

"Oh? How come?"

"There's competition this year," Creega stated. "And he'll be hard to beat."

"Is this the same man who referred to earlier? The one Kennah has his eye on?" Jubal asked innocuously, but if he thought Creega would give an easy answer, he was mistaken.

"Stop fishing," came the reply. "Even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn't. Telling the Regent's secrets isn't a good way to keep my job. Or my life."

"But is it really a secret? Kennah was never known for playing things close to the vest," Jubal pointed out.

"Of course, it's not really a secret," Creega scoffed, as if Jubal should know better than to ask such a ridiculous question. "Everyone knows, but no one heard it from me. It was obvious at the Senheim. And like I said before: if you saw the man, you'd understand. Everyone wants him. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of him over the next few days, especially if he's chosen as Shekkeln. In the meantime, let's go find some of that food. I can smell it, too."

Hanataro stood looking at the massive structure before him.

He, himself, was standing among the tents and the steadily arriving masses of revelers. With him was Bin and another boy named Aluu.

"Why don't we go inside?" Hanataro asked. "I'll bet there's much better lifting inside, a lot richer people."

"We may try to slip in later," Bin replied. "There's plenty of takings right out here. So, let's see you prove yourself." He sidled a few steps to his left to get a good look at a large open pit fire with skewers of shredded meat roasting atop an iron grate. "Think you can lift some of those?"

"Easy," Hanataro replied. "How many do you want?"

"Oh, just three – just enough for the three of us," Bin replied.

"I'll meet you back here," Hanataro said, and he disappeared into the crowd. He had to get far enough away from them that they would lose track of him. Even though the seki-seki rock made flash step unusable in the lower east, Hanataro's natural skills would be a boon. He was clumsy, true; but he was also innocuous, like wall paper blending into the background. He could be swift when he needed to be, so long as there weren't too many obstacles. And he had the dexterity of a healer. He could slip in unnoticed, and only the sudden absence of three skewers would give any indication that someone had been there.

It was child's play, and Hanataro carried it off without a hitch. Within three minutes, he was back with Bin and Aluu, waving three hot and fat-dripping meaty skewers in front of them.

"How—how did you do that? We didn't see you," Aluu asked, his eyes wide and awe-filled.

"Oh, he must have gotten them from another fire pit," Bin protested. "There's no way you could have stolen them from there and we didn't see you."

Hanataro handed over two of the skewers, sinking his teeth into the third and letting the warm juices dribble down his chin. He smiled a mouthful of tasty meat. "Does it matter where I got them? Let's just eat and enjoy."

Bin and Aluu looked at each other and smiled.

"You have a point," Bin replied, chomping down on his own stolen treat. "I like the way you think."

Aluu nodded a mouthful. "Me, too."

The place was deserted.

Just as Jubal had said it would be.

It had taken her nearly two hours to reach the place using her top speed, unenhanced by flashstep.

Earlier, she had lost the trail of the two men from the market, the two men who'd been speaking of Yumichika. They'd been crafty, clearing knowing that they were being trailed. Rangiku berated herself for losing them with every step towards the message place.

Arriving, she searched for some marker that would indicate a message had been left. After looking for less than five minutes, she found a freshly disturbed patch of dirt at the base of one of the broken pillars.

She dug into the ground and found a tiny box containing a neatly folded sheet of paper.

It was from Jubal.

"Regent pursues."

"Well, that makes no sense," Rangiku frowned. "Who is the Regent? And is he pursuing Yumichika or has Jubal already gotten himself into trouble, and he's the one being pursued?"

She could have sat there all night and wondered about it, but she had her own message to scribble on the paper.

"Zibell. Supho. Damir. 5th seat their house."

She hoped that was not too cryptic. If the messages were found, the ability to discern their meaning could mean the failure of their mission. Yet, she had to make sure her companions had a fighting chance of unscrambling the message. She folded the paper and put it back in the box, burying it again.

"I just hope the others can find it."

And now, as for Rangiku . . .

She had to find out where Zibell and Supho were employed.

"Shit, here comes Meckkat." Pincot saw the movement through the door way. "The Orator is still in there with Lamos, and Captain Campion hasn't come back yet."

"Are you ready?" Supho asked Yumichika.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Yumichika replied.

"It'll be easier if the Orator stays in there," Pincot noted. "He won't tolerate seeing you act like that. Let's hope—uh-oh, Zibell is out there."

"Don't worry about Zibell," Yumichika interrupted. "Just give me a headsup if you hear Nelphune getting ready to come out." He squared his jaw. "I know how to be a bastard better than anyone else. And I've seen how to be a flirty, drunken airhead better than anyone else. " He looked at the two guards. "But if Nelphune kills me, it will be all your fault." The clumsy attempt at humor showed just how nervous he really was, for he did not know how Nelphune would react if he saw him doing what he intended to do. He did not know how the priests or anyone else would react.

But he would do what he had to do.

Taking a deep breath and drawing on his worst traits, he assumed a posture and demeanor of smug superiority and disdain, pushed the two guards aside with great bluster and burst into the main room where High Priest Meckkat was waiting with his entourage.

Supho and Pincot glanced at each other. Good idea or bad idea, things were about to get interesting.