Chapter 29


Once Adia was dressed Julian brought her to the temple's own medical bay.

For a routine check up as Julian had stated. Adia didn't care what it was for. She was tired of medical bays. It seemed that all her time had been spent in them the past few days.

The girl spent another age of doctors poking and prodding at her until she threatened to hit them. Then they left her alone to sit in the examination room while they gathered their results.

Adia stared aimlessly at the walls of the stone room. It looked more like a scientist's laboratory than a medical bay. Unlike the other chambers in this place she'd seen, these walls were not decorated. Rather, they showed nothing more than the pale, stone, that made Adia feel queasy after looking at them for a while.

Adia sighed, kicking her feet against the bed. She was sick of waiting. She saw no point in being here. The door to the chamber was wide open as if to invite her to leave. She spent a moment pondering whether she should or not, then soon fell victim to temptation.

Journeying the bay's passage the girl came across another medial chamber, much like the one she was in before. Going to move on, Adia suddenly spied a nurse dabbing a wound on Julian's naked chest, and instantly she skidded to a halt.

Julian, noticing her presence, snapped Adia from her fascinated stare. Adia's face flushed as she suddenly looked to the floor and briskly dove out of sight.

She heard a loud laugh from inside and then the sound of bounding footsteps as Julian's head playfully appeared from around the corner.

"I saw that! I saw you peeping!"

"Peeping?!" Adia argued. "It was merely for observational purposes."

"Really?"

Julian let the word loll off his tongue, giving Adia a cool stare that instantly sent her into an uncontrollable cackle.

Caught up in the moment Julian grabbed her by the hands, twirling her around in a playful dance down the hall, oblivious to the baffled stares of onlookers.

"Stop!" Crippled over with laugher Adia cried. "It's hurting my stomach!"

Julian laughed, pulling her into a tight hug where they stood, giggling at one another until a subdued cough broke the two apart.

"I see you have become rather… well aquatinted in my absence."

Er Shua hummed.

"Er Shua!"

Adia squealed, diving into his arms.

"You got the message, it's good to see you got here." Julian said more formally.

"The people of Otoh Gunga are devastated about Es'mai. I needed to get away. Si'sha is staying with her family while I am here." Er Shua gave a sad sigh before quickly moving along, "There has been arranged a board meeting which, you, Aida and Julian are expected to attend this very minute."

"We better get a move on," Julian stated bluntly, leading the way out.

Julian guided the others through the countless temple corridors. Each one looking like the last, Adia found it hard to believe that he could tell them apart. But apparently he'd spent many years of his life here in this hive of a place. So he felt right at home. Adia knew that without him, she would have been lost. The place seemed to be a city in itself. A city of cloaked people.

They soon came to another set of double doors, no different to the last. Once again, Adia's eyes were drawn to the small, carved inscriptions in the wood. They made no sense to her but still, they seemed so fascinating.

Julian battered the door where then there came a loud crank from within sending an echo through the passage. Very slowly did the massive doors open to reveal a long row of capped figures, each standing in place at a great, boardroom table.

All eyes locked on Adia and instantly she felt like digging a hole in the floor to hide in. Julian gave her a rough in jab in the back, forcing her forward.

"She is here, the Shul is finally here!"

A figure broke away from the line and approached. Adia let herself exhale when she suddenly realized that it was her father.

The Lord removed his hood, revealing a warm smile he placed both hands on her shoulders.

"It is good to see that you are well."

All eyes followed them as he led her down the rows of prophets to an empty seat close to the table's end.

"This is your seat Adia."

The assembly followed her lead in taking their seats and it was then that Adia allowed her eyes to trail down faces of the assembly.

Out of a board of around twenty, Adia found that she was the only female there. Everyone seemed to hold the same, sullen, hardened stare. They would have to be fooling themselves if they expected Adia to do the same.

Then another face appeared from the mob, one beaming with interest and curiosity. This one was young. No older than Adia herself. It was he whom occupied the table's end. The fancy clothes alone stated that he was in a position of authority.

He gave her a wide grin before Adia's father hummed, gaining the attention of the board.

"I now commence the meeting of his majesty's council." He signalled to the young Gungan. "Prince Sei'ghier, son of deceased Y'ani'tor Shadaih."

The young prince stood, addressing the board.

"Members of the board. It is I whom feels honoured to be in your presence." His smile bore down on Adia as he gave her a cheeky wink. "Especially yours, Lady Yah."

Adia felt her face burn as she bit her lip in embarrassment.

"However." The prince continued, stiffening his posture. "It has been brought to my attention that we have acquired another, powerful enemy." His gazed hardened. "A warrior who possesses the art of the sphere… A warrior, who, when she was at her weakest attacked our Lady Shul and gained possession of her own weapon. The sphere."

A hushed gasp suddenly sounded throughout the board, followed by a low murmur as faces once again turned to the girl.

Adia's heart skipped a beat.

"Order!" Her father brought the assembly to silence. "No doubt it has been established that we have a difficult decision to make. In one hand we have our Shul, our soul guardian and protector. In the other, we have an enemy whom has proved himself very powerful. We need the sphere back. Under no circumstances can we allow it fall into the hands of the Shadow people again." The Lord brought his voice to a low murmur. "I am sure you are familiar with what happened the last time they took hold of it."

"It could be too late!" came a call from somewhere down the table's end. "They could be planning an attack as we speak, we must take action!"

"I have not dismissed that possibility." The Lord replied. "But Sir Julian has brought to my attention that the Shadows may want to make sure that the Shul was out of the picture before they planned anything on such a scale. We need to train the girl-"

"Yi, Yi!"

Another member who stood in hot protest cut him off. Slamming a fist on the table, he spoke in Mesulan, deeming Aida unable to understand him.

"Eway et akeem hutur yikan yay! Eway yikan de ima dos rinig i'r!"

Following his protest came a shower of others. Members screaming in their own mix of Basic and Mesulan so that eventually it became nothing but one great big roar.

Adia could feel a pounding in her head. She closed her eyes, swallowing in attempt to calm it. But it only got louder and louder until finally she could take it no longer.

"Stop!" she burst to her feet. "Stop it!"

The entire assembly suddenly fell silent.

"Your bickering is getting you nowhere!" she roared, "So I suggest that somehow these differences be resolved sooner rather than later because I can guarantee that I for one am not hanging around here for much longer."

All was silent, as each face seemed to stare at her in nothing but shock. Adia swallowed down the sudden rush of queasiness, instinctively searching the room for some kind of escape.

Prince Sei'ghier saved her from further embarrassment by giving cough.

"Well," he hummed. "In that case I propose for a recess."