Cries Out for a Father who Can Not Hear Him

The arena was noisy. People of every color creed and race threw things at each other. Some of the patrons who gained closer access to the center of the arena were brave enough to start throwing things at the Emperor. Any of the brave souls who were caught, were thrown into the ring and carted off by the Emperor's guards.

Kirisatt was showing off the last of his new clothes to the crowd. Light teal breeches and waistcoat, with a white shirt and stockings. The cape seemed to be made of the feathers of a swan. The magic in the cape allowed Kirisatt to swoop around the arena and torment various patrons with a kick from his gold tipped, high heeled boots.

Emperor Kirisatt's antics gained many a whoop and laugh from the crowd. He slowly flew to his box as the gold golems and arena masters cleared the ring to prepare for the next part of the show.

"Here," Kunne said as he handed Lodo a spyglass, "from these seats, you will need this to get a good look at him." Kunne sat down on the stone seat and began to cry.

"Kunne? Are you alright?" Katla asked.

"Yes, I am fine." Kunne said as he wiped a tear, "It is just that the sight of the Ancient Captive gives me a sense of peace. Even as they beat him, he has such a serene look on his face. He does not break his composure until the very end. Sometimes, I believe he is trying to work a spell, and at the end, screaming to release it. Oddly, that is the time when the ancient gate sometimes opens long enough to let adventurers in."

The crowd silenced as the Ancient Captive was wheeled into the arena on a cart. In the center of the arena, two poles were set up. He stepped down from the cart, and stood between the two poles.

"Kunne, I thought you said he was shackled. I see no shackles on him." Lodo said as he peered through the spyglass.

"They are not normal shackles. They are not made to restrict his movement, only to arrest his magic. Those armbands and ankle bands he wears are the shackles. Take a close look at them."

Lodo peered through the spyglass and focused it on one of the Ancient Captive's wrists. The armband seemed to be made of bone. Attached to the armband by a length of chain, was a hideous hand. As Lodo continued to look, he could have sworn the hand moved. He looked at the other armband and on the leg bands. Each was made of the same bone substance, and each had another type of hideous hand attached to it.

"What are those hands doing on the shackles?"

"They are some part of the spell. Did you notice that they move?" Kunne answered.

"Yes, but I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me."

"Oh no, those hands are very much alive. It is rumored that somewhere in the Jagged Palace, four very powerful demons are imprisoned. It is said that whatever binds them is permanent so they can't get loose. One hand from each of them was magically severed, to create the shackles. Each demon is bound to a shackle through that hand. That demonic energy is what keeps the Ancient Captive from using his spells, so it is said."

"Interesting. I would love to meet the wizard responsible for creating those."

"There was at least a dozen. I am not sure really how many. No one knows. All the creators died to make them."

"Whoa" Thelvin commented, as he listened in on the conversation.

"Some rumors say that the souls of all those wizards are trapped in the bone parts of the shackles."

"That is the most evil thing I have ever heard." Tharros said.

"I want to see, Lodo. Give me the spyglass." Katla said.

............................

The Ancient Captive raised his hands and grabbed onto the two poles. The hands on his shackles also moved to grab the poles.

Kirisatt, having changed his clothes into an outfit made entirely of leather, walked out. The crowed rose and cheered as he showed off the various types of staffs, canes and whips he was going to use. He gave a smile and motioned for the crowd to silence.

In the audience were several Black Wizards and several Veiled Knights. The Emperor had them there for crowd control. Any patron that did not obey Kirisatt's hand gestures was flogged or ensorcelled by the crowd controllers. Those who still continued to be rowdy were dragged away.

Kirisatt ripped off the Ancient Captive's shirt and ran his tongue along his smooth back. Oohs, ahs, and hushed giggles came from the crowd.

Kirisatt grabbed a whip and began the beating. Cheers rose and silenced after every crack. Every few minutes, Kirisatt would change weapons and continue the beating.

"You know, you look so tempting when you are sweaty and bleeding. I would take you right here in front of the crowd if Ty'Aero was not watching. He would have a fit. I can not have my Chief Advisor giving me the silent treatment. It is not good for the city."

"Do as you will, your Majesty. It is your city. I am just a slave."

"Shut up." Kirisatt said as he planted a kiss on the Ancient Captive's lips.

The crowd went wild with hoots and hollering. Shouts of 'more,' and 'do it,' rang out until Kirisatt gave the silence signal once again. He smiled, grabbed another weapon and continued.

...........................

"That idiot." Ty'Aero murmured to himself, "I hate these blatant displays. I wish he would speed it up so we can see the chariot race and the gladiatorial match."

He tapped his fingers against the ornate arm of his chair in his private box. He was afraid he was going to fall asleep. Kirisatt's public displays of homosexuality annoyed Ty'Aero more than anything else. At least it provided Ty'Aero with some anonymity.

"The power behind the throne," Ty'Aero thought as shuffled in his comfortable seat, "I could just kill the bastard and be done with him, if he were not part of the mystery holding the Ancient Captive."

Verien walked up slowly behind Ty'Aero's throne. Ty'Aero knew that he was there, but decided, from his own boredom, to let the assassin think his sneaking had been successful.

Verien crouched and crawled down around Ty'Aero's feet. Once in place, he popped up into the wizard's face.

Ty'Aero faked a startled shake, then smiled.

"You sent for me? Your Grace."

"Yes, Verien, I have a job for you. A very secret job. The Emperor is not to know of it. If I suspect he has been informed, I will have you publicly flayed, and leave you to bleed slowly to death."

"I understand, Your Grace."

"Good. Somewhere in the city is a woman of exceptional breeding and grace. A Sun Elf. I suspect she is a princess in disguise. Manners like this lady has are only found in those of royal blood. I want you to find where she is staying, and inform me."

"Is that all, Your Grace? You do not want me to capture her and bring her to you?"

"No, not just yet. A woman of her caste should be wooed first, then politely pursued. If neither of those work, then you can capture her. For now, I just need to know she has the proper accommodations befitting her station."

"I will do as you command, Your Grace."

"I know you will."

......................................

Katla gave a gasp as she looked at the Ancient Captive. She continued to peer into the telescope, although she fought back tears.

"It is impossible!" She muttered to herself.

Thelvin tried to grab the spyglass from her. "What's impossible girl?"

She looked and scrutinized every feature she could see of the Ancient Captive's face. Almost as if he knew she was looking, he stared up at her so she could clearly see his face through the spyglass. Her hands shook to where she nearly dropped the telescope. If Thelvin had not had his hands on it, she would have.

"What is the matter with you?" Lodo asked, seeing how shook she was.

"Did you see his face, Lodo. Did you get a good look at his face?"

"What about his face? I was not looking at his face. Frankly, his shackles are much more interesting to me."

"He is a Moon Elf."

"Yes, Katla, that is pretty obvious from his skin tone. What is your point?"

"Thelvin, give Lodo back the spyglass."

"I ain't finished a lookin at him yet."

"Thelvin!"

"Alright, alright woman. There is no need to be shoutin in me ear." Thelvin said as he handed the telescope back to Lodo.

Lodo looked through the telescope at the face of the Ancient Captive. It took him a few minutes to get a clear view. Just like it had happened with Katla, the Ancient Captive looked directly at Lodo. Lodo took a quick breath and slowly lowered the spyglass.

"Are ye finished?"

"Yes, Thelvin, I am done with it."

"What's the matter with ye two durned Elves? Ye look like ye have just seen a ghost."

"That is because we have," Lodo said quietly. "I do not know how it is possible. We need a closer look to be sure."

"I know no other man on the face of Toril that has that hair, that build, and THAT face."

"Who in the nine hells air ye talking about?"

"Zaor Moonflower. Ruler of Evermeet, Lord and King over all Elves." Katla said.

"Zaor Moonflower?" Tharros said catching the end of the conversation," I thought he was dead."

"He is, Tharros, he is." Lodo said.

"The what is he doin here?"

"Could he have been resurrected?" Tharros asked.

"What are you four talking about?"

"The Ancient Captive, Kunne."

"I doubt it is King Zaor, Katla. He has been here as long as anyone can remember."

"Nonetheless, those features are not common, almost non-existent, to Elves."

...............................................

As the Ancient Captive looked up at the crowd, he had a strange feeling run through him. Someone up there in the crowd was familiar to him, familiar in an old way. It was the oddest feeling he had in many years. He looked up at the crowd again to confirm his feeling. The odd feeling was different, but still vaguely familiar. His concentration faltered. The pain he tried to shut out came to him in a rush. He could feel the wounds healing themselves as more wounds were plastered onto him. He could finally take no more.

"Father! Help me, Father! I am here! Father! Why can you not hear me!? Father! Father!" he shouted and passed out in a crumpled heap to the ground.

The crowd cheered and shouted as Kirisatt made his way around the edge of the ring. He blew kisses and picked up flowers that were thrown to him.

Kirisatt's guards picked up the unconscious Ancient Captive and placed him on the wagon. He was wheeled out of the arena as the slaves ran around setting up for the next event of the day.

"It's over." Lodo said," lets go see what the owners of Wine and Spirits have decided about that tapestry."

"Now we know what the second part of the riddle means." Katla grimaced.

....................

Please Review