Part 4: First Flight
I looked down from the top of the tower. I could barely see the people on the ground milling about, it was so high. They had no idea what I was about to do. I stood on the very edge, my toes curling over the edge. No, I would need a running start.
I backed up about twenty feet. I looked out into the sky, splotched with only a few clouds. The air was crisp and cool up here. I gathered my courage and closed my eyes, visualizing what I was going to do. At last, I was ready. I bounded forward at full speed. I could hear my breath growing faster and my heart racing. As I reached the edge, I leaped forward, and my whole body began to plummet through the air. I outstretched my body, in a cold and furious free fall. I summoned the energy inside me, pulling it out of its slumber.
I could see the people clearly now, looking up at me in shock and horror. I laughed inwardly. And then, as I had planned, my golden wings materialized out of my shoulders. I flapped them hard, sending me upwards again. The feeling was intoxicating. I knew I was not really flying, but falling still, just slowly and gracefully. I was a golden goddess floating to the earth. I flapped rhythmically, but not too fast, I reminded myself; if I flapped too fast, I'd lose control and fall. Slowly, slowly I came closer to the ground, until I landed on my feet, and my knee bowed forward to catch the weight of my whole body. As I touched the marble floor of the courtyard, I could feel my whole body tingle. My wings dissipated into fiery sparks. My eyes were locked to the ground, and I could gasps of amazement. I looked up at the people standing all around, mouths agape with awe. As I stood up, cheers erupted in a deafening roar. I smiled. I turned around back to towards the Palace and I saw Lor standing there, his jaw wide open and his eyes almost bursting right out of his skull.
"You're insane," he laughed. "That was insane. I'd heard stories about your light powers and that you could fly, but holy shit...I just...You scared the hell out of me!"
"That was the point," I laughed. "I know how to make an entrance."
"What did it feel like?"
"I can't describe it," I said. "It's the most amazing rush. I haven't done it in so long, and now...I feel like I can really breathe. It makes you feel so alive, like before that moment you'd never really lived."
"I thought you'd gone crazy for a second," he said. "I was scared when I saw you falling."
"Are you mad?"
"No, I trust you," he said. "If I had known you were able to do that, I would have just watched in amazement rather than nearly shit myself."
"Torn would have shit himself anyway," I giggled.
"We have a council meeting to get to," he said. "Come on."
As we walked through the front doors of the Palace, applause erupted through the hall. Word of my feat had already reached all ears. A feeling of pride swelled in me. I was their heroine, the chosen one.
"Thank you everyone!" I shouted, waving at the gathering masses. Lor smiled cheerfully and put his arm around me. Suddenly, an angry voice cut through the praise.
"Janovah, whore queen!"
Everyone stopped and started murmuring with discontent, trying to find the source of insult. I was confused as well, but decided not to pay it any mind.
"You jelly?" I laughed. The crowd laughed with me. We walked through the doorway and the massive doors closed behind us, leaving us with only a few scattered people in the corridor.
"Did that bother you?" Lor asked.
"No," I said. "Haters gonna hate. We knew there would be a few dissenters about our relationship. I'm surprised there's not more."
"Perhaps they're smarter than we thought. Perhaps they realize it's a match of true souls, instead of a dirty affair."
Dia then strolled up to me, looking disgustingly smug.
"Majesty," she said. "That was quite a rude interruption to your fanfare."
"Can't please everyone, I suppose," I shrugged.
"That quite true," she said, her thin lips curled into a sickening smile.
"That reminds," I said. "I remember being told that back in the day, the Baron had quite a few affairs, with numerous mistresses. And yet, everyone feared him so much, no one dared call him names. You see, Lady Dia, I choose to rule with kindness and compassion, and an unfortunate side effect is that people have the right to judge me in the open. But I would rather win support through my compassion rather than force. That's how a true leader does things. Take note."
She looked entirely crestfallen and defeated. And as if to add insult to injury, I said, "You know, there is this market down the road from here. It's on the right side, it's owned by a lovely Lurker family, they carry this organic teeth whitener that works miracles, from what I've heard."
I could see her turning purple with rage as she placed a hand to her mouth. Lor and I continued to walk forward, and as I passed her, I said cheerfully, "You have a good day, Lady Dia."
"Love, that was so awesome," he said quietly. "You skills of backhandedness have come a long way. I'm proud."
"Nothing can bring me down today," I smiled. "Today, I am invincible."
"Majesty!" I heard a frantic voice calling. It was Ret, my secretary. He was sprinting towards me. "Majesty! You have been summoned the infirmary right away!"
"Samos," I sighed.
"Yes madam," he nodded. "I'm afraid he has taken a turn for the worse. The doctors say you should come with great haste."
"I'll come with you," Lor said.
"No," I said. "I need to go alone. Please send my apologies to the council, will you?"
"There will be no apologies necessary," he said. He took my hand and squeezed it. "Come find me afterwards."
I nodded, and he released my hand. I walked quickly with Ret by my side, hurrying to my grandfather's bedside.
I entered the sitting room of Samos' hospital suite. I saw Torn sitting on one of the couches, holding Janosikah. My eyes could hardly believe how big he had gotten. He was a big, healthy toddler. I walked over to him and knelt down.
"Mommy?" Janosikah said in a sleepy state.
"Hello my little darling," I said. I petted his head full of red-brown hair. He unwrapped himself from Torn and climbed into my lap.
"I told you not to bring him here while this is going on," I said quietly to Torn.
"He should see his great-grandfather before he goes to sleep," Torn whispered. I could tell he was using "go to sleep" instead of "die" as not to alarm Janosikah, who was so sensitive.
"Mommy, Daddy says that Papa Samos has to go to sweep forever. Tell Daddy that's not twue."
"My sweet boy," I murmured. "It is true, he has to go to sleep."
"By why?" he sobbed into my shoulder.
"Papa Samos is very sick, he's in pain," I said. "They can't fix his boo boo, but when he goes to sleep, he won't hurt from the boo boo anymore."
"What kind of boo boo does he have? Can't you fix it, Mommy? Daddy says you have magic tears that can fix anything, he said you fixed a boo boo once."
The pain that hit me was overwhelming. How could I tell my two year old that everybody dies? That everybody grows old and dies? When I was a little girl, I saw death all around me, whether from old age, illness, or injury from fighting in the stadium or in Wasteland. I never had to question death, I was conditioned to it. I was used to it. But Janosikah had been growing up as many children these days did, free of fear and ubiquitous death. Thanks to me.
"There are some things Mommy can't fix," I whispered. I felt tears swelling in my eyes, blurring my vision.
"I still don't unnerstand why he has to go to sweep," he said. He wrapped his arms around my neck.
"I don't know either, sweetheart," I whispered.
"It's okay," Torn said. "You can tell him the truth. It's better that way, I promise."
"Mommy?" Janosikah said, confused.
"When people get old," I choked, "Really old, like Papa Samos, or sometimes if they're very sick or they have a bad boo boo, they have to go to sleep."
Janosikah uncurled himself from me, looking frightened.
"Do I have to go to sweep?" he said. "I don't wanna go to sweep! I'll neber go to sweep! You're lying! Daddy, tell Mommy she's a liar!" He got up and began running across the room, wailing. "I'll neber go to sweep again! Neber neber and you can't make me!"
I felt the tears spill over on to my cheeks.
"Go to Samos now," Torn said. "I'll handle this. Hurry, don't let him see the tears."
I got up and walked over to the door leading into the bedroom. As I passed through the door, I could still hear Torn trying to console our son.
I saw Kat and my mother sitting in chairs next to the bed. Samos was asleep, taking slow, shallow breaths. He had monitors all around him, keeping track of his pulse and blood pressure. I knew what they were for; waiting for the moment of death.
Kat took my hand and pulled me into a chair between them. She started to stroke my hair.
"Are you alright?" she whispered.
"I just had to tell my toddler that everyone dies," I said. "That one day, he's going to die. He didn't take the news well."
"He'll be okay," she sighed.
"How is he?" I asked.
"He's in and out," my mother choked through her tears. "Sometimes he groans. He's talked a couple of times."
"What did he say?" I asked.
"He told me that he loved me," my mother said. "He also said that to Kat. He told her to find her happiness. And he was asking for you."
"I should have come sooner," I murmured.
"What were you doing?" she hissed. "Jumping off of buildings? Showboating for the people, when you should have been here."
"Mom, I-"
"You should have been here!" she yelled. Samos then gave an uncomfortable groan.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "You didn't know, there was no way..."
"Has the doctor said anything?" I said.
"He said that despite his condition, he's stable," Kat said. "There's no way to know how long it'll last. Could be days. Weeks, even."
"If it's okay with you two, I need to check on my son," I said. Kat nodded. My mother just stared at her dying father.
I got up and walked back out into the sitting room. I saw Torn holding a sleeping Janosikah in his arms.
"Kid doesn't keep promises," I joked. "He went out pretty damn fast."
"We need to talk about him," Torn said. "He's been showing signs, of powers."
"This early?" I gasped. "Has he had any rages? God, he hasn't phased yet, has he?"
"Not dark powers, light ones. He sprouted wings a couple days, out of the blue, for a few moments. Just like the ones your father had."
"That's a relief," I sighed. "He can't kill anyone phasing into his light side."
"Not really a relief," he said. "He says he wants to fly like his mommy. He saw you out of the window."
"Do you want me to talk to him?" I asked. "I could teach him his boundaries. Show him when he can and cannot try to use his powers."
"You should," Torn said. "How old were you when you first had signs?"
"I was maybe eleven. My dark ones showed first. I had rages at first. I first phased when I was thirteen, for a few seconds, when I was alone. I didn't show my light ones until much later, when Spargus was first attacked. Seem told me how."
"Maybe it depends on upbringing," he suggested. "Janosikah has been brought up in a much happier environment than you were. And Jak wasn't born into it, as you know. He got them from outside sources."
"Maybe," I murmured. "Can I take him for a while? I haven't seen him in a long time, with you being away and all."
"Not my doing," he grumbled.
"Don't start with me," I threatened. "I want to see my child, so give him to me."
He picked up Janosikah and handed him to me, rousing him from his sleep. I took him in my arms, smoothing out his hair.
"Come sweetheart, we're going to go play for a while," I said.
As I walked into my room, carrying Janosikah, Lor was there waiting for me. He smiled at the sight of him and walked over to us.
"Your grace," he smiled, bowing. "The little Prince himself."
"Janny, this is Lor, the General and Mommy's special friend," I said.
"Hi," Janosikah said.
"What did I miss at council today?" I asked Lor.
"Well, your plan for economic reform is on track. Our funds are increasing rapidly, and very soon it should be time for the tax break you wanted. Our crime level is at an all-time low. Except..." he trailed off.
"Yes?"
"There's a movement forming in the city," he said. "They've named themselves after the Underground movement that toppled the Baron. But they want to topple you."
I laughed. "Topple me? The original Underground sought to get rid of the Baron to restore the original monarchy. And why would they not like me? The people are happier than ever, they love me."
"Not everyone does," he said. "There are some who believe that the Monarchy is outdated and worthless. They think that leaders should be chosen by the people they rule and not born into privilege."
"I wasn't born into privilege though," I said. "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth, not silver. I grew up in a dirt hovel amongst orphans. Not exactly royal treatment."
"You're not one of those mean unnerground people, are you?" Janosikah said to Lor. Lor laughed, and smiled.
"Of course not," he said. I felt uneasy. His laugh was almost nervous. I decided to think nothing of it.
"Mommy, can you teach me to fly?" Janosikah asked.
"You're too young," I insisted.
"Can we go see the sky then?"
"I guess that's okay. Let's go, then."
I put Janosikah down on the marble flooring on the top of the tower. The wind was brisk and cool as I remembered it.
"Don't go too close to the edge dear," I told him. I turned back to Lor.
"What kind of a threat is this second movement?" I asked.
"Minimal," he said. "Their followers are few in number. They have little ammunition and none are brave enough to make a direct threat on your life."
"I want patrols stepped up anyway. Assume everyone is innocent, but I want ears and eyes wide open at all times."
"I don't think that's necessary," he said. "It would dip into our financial growth and delay the tax cuts."
"Then so be it," I said. "I can't take that chance. If they're willing to do harm to me, they'd have to take out Janosikah too. I can't allow that to happen."
"Janovah," he said. "I sincerely doubt anyone would want to hurt your son, even if they want you out of office so badly."
"You will do as I say," I said. "I might be sharing your bed, but keep in mind that I am your Queen and you will obey me."
"Yes, madam," he murmured.
"Look mommy! Watch me!" I heard Janosikah yell.
"In a moment, darling," I called back. I didn't turn to look at him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lor said.
"You're being suspicious," I said.
"Janovah," he said, aghast. "I'm just simply trying to advise you. Okay, I know my extensive knowledge of the movement and my hesitation to step up patrols might seem odd-"
"Suspicious," I corrected.
"I'm just looking out for the best interest of the city," he said.
"But what about my best interests?"
"Mommy, watch me! Watch me fly!"
I whipped my head around in immediate terror. I saw Janosikah running to the edge and then I saw him disappear out of view.
"Janosikah!" I screamed.
I sprinted towards the edge, hurdling myself downwards. I could see his little body flailing in the air. I tried to position myself to fall faster but it was in vain. I saw blue streaks appear around his body, his wings. He was trying to flap fruitlessly, but it was slowing him down. At last I fell passed him as he struggled to keep flight. I pulled deep from within myself and my wings erupted around me. I turned on my back, still falling, arms wide open to catch him. Finally, his wings failed and crumpled and he was streaking towards the earth again. He fell into my arms, and the impact knocked the breath out of me. I clenched his body to my own as tightly as I could, as I positioned my body to face the ground again. Janosikah gave a blood-curdling scream. There wasn't much time left. I flapped with full force, and an uptake of air slowed the fall. I carefully floated us down back to the ground, and landed with a soft thud.
I heard screams and cheers of relief and adoration all around me, but my ears were overtaken by Janosikah's fearful wailing.
"Shh," I tried to console him. "It's okay. I've got you, you're not hurt."
"I want my daddy!" he shrieked.
"Bravo, majesty!" I heard a spectator call out. "A true heroine!"
Torn came running up to us, and Janosikah jumped away from me, streaking over to him.
"He jumped!" I said. I could tell Torn was furious. "I caught him, he's okay, everyone's okay."
"This is not okay," he growled. "You were supposed to be teaching him not to do this."
"I told him not to!"
"You were supposed to be watching him!" he yelled. Torn picked him up and carried him into the Palace. I ran after them.
"Let me talk to him, please," I begged. "I need to tell him that that won't happen again if he's careful."
"It wouldn't have happened in the first place if you had your eyes on him instead of your toy," he said.
"He can't be afraid to use his powers when he needs to!" I said. "If you let him be afraid, he'll never learn and he might need them to defend himself!"
"How do you expect to do that? Because your first lesson didn't work out too well, did it?"
The doors closed behind us. The hall was mostly empty. He kept walking fast and I kept pace.
"Let me take him for a flight," I said. "I could have safety devices made. He'll be safe with me, I know what I'm doing. It'll satisfy his curiosity and he'll get over the fear!"
"Are you crazy?" he said. "No way, no way! He could be killed if you failed to launch!"
"I could have back up parachutes! I'll make it fail-proof!"
"No way!" he yelled as he disappeared into the corridor. I stopped chasing him. I knew arguing was fruitless.
Lor helped me strap Janosikah into the harness attached to my chest. I had taken Janosikah early from his bed while Torn was still asleep. I knew by now he'd be awake and looking for us, so I had to hurry.
"Okay," Lor said. "The string on the backpack will deploy your parachute in case of emergency. If the worst should happen, press the red button on the front of the harness. That will eject Janosikah and deploy his parachute. Then you deploy your own."
"Mommy, what are he doing?" Janosikah said. "Why am I all strapped in?"
"We're going to fly," I said. "You're strapped in to make sure you don't fall, sweetheart."
"But daddy says I can't fly!" he said. "Daddy said it was too dangerous!"
"Daddy is stupid," I mumbled. "Daddy doesn't know what he's talking about."
Lor tightened all the straps. Janosikah was strapped in facing my chest, so all he could see was the sky, not the ground.
"Ready," Lor said. "You better hurry, I'm sure Torn's going to be breaking down that door any second."
"Okay," I sighed. "Hold on tight, dear. Don't be scared, here we go!"
I started running. I was unable to see my feet because of Janosikah blocking my view. I felt my foot no longer touch ground as I fell. Janosikah held on tight, whining in fear. I outstretched my arms, feeling the morning wind tear against my hands. The breeze in my ears was deafening.
"Look at the sky!" I yelled to Janosikah over the cacophony.
After a few seconds, he too outstretched his hands. It was time. I began to try to summon my powers, but my heart sank. I felt nothing. I reached in deeper and deeper, but I felt nothing at all. Panic gripped me. I felt tears growing in my eyes. The ground was getting too close. I knew what had to be done and I had to do it now. My shaking hand reached up and pushed the red button. Janosikah tore away from my body, as I fell passed him. His parachute had deployed. I reached behind me and gripped the string. I pulled, and the string came away.
Nothing happened.
I was just seconds from the ground. I spread my weight out as much as I could, hoping to disperse the impact and survive the fall. But it was unlikely. I knew, in that one second, I was about to die. I felt nothing when the impact came. Just weightlessness. Almost as though I was floating. And my vision was black and I drifted into unconsciousness.
The stone floor was dusty and damp. The walls of Mar's tomb were cracked and old. I approached the ill-taken steps, to a door that never opened. I had just completed the Array of Trials, otherwise known as the Tests of Manhood. My father had once completed the same trials to reach the the precursor stone. I had come to claim the weapon, whatever it was.
Before me, two spirits appeared, a man and a woman. One was tall, muscular, with a squared jaw. His hair was done into dreadlocks, touching his shoulders. It was a pale silver-white, glowing in the incandescent moonlight. The woman was also rather tall. Her hair was long and black, descending to the small of her back. Her eyes were piercing blue, and her facial features were much smoother than the man's.
"Welcome, young warrior," the woman said. Her voice was a clear bell tone. "I am Samonuske. Beside me is my husband Damus. I assume you have come to claim the weapon, Janovah."
"Yes," I breathed. She knew my name. But considering I was talking to what looked like ghosts, it seemed par for the course.
"Present your sword," she said.
I took the heavy metallic handle jutting out from the sheath and withdrew the sword. The coppery precursor metal glittered in the dim light. Samonuske lifted her hand slightly; the blade glowed blue.
"Indeed, it is the sword of Mar," Damus said. His voice was low and hoarse.
"You have come seeking this weapon to fight Rin, no doubt?" Samonuske said.
"Yes," I replied.
"You do well to try to stop my son. I can only pray you fair better than he did."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Rin was once a great warrior like yourself, with a gift for channeling eco. But the darkness consumed him, changed him, turned him into a monster that was unrecognizable."
"What could he have done to prevent this?" I asked.
"Nothing. It was inevitable. It was a part of his destiny," she said. "Perhaps even a part of yours."
"I won't let that happen," I said.
"Here is the weapon," she said. She stepped over to me, and cupped her hands and presented an item to me. It was a golden medallion, with a twinkling ruby set in the middle. On the outer edge, there were writings in ancient precursor script.
"The final artifact of Mar," she said. "When the time comes, a cavity will form in the back of your amulet. You must place the artifact inside and bind the powers of light and dark together, to form perfect eco. The release of power will be so tremendous that it will destroy every touch the dark makers have left, undo all the damage done. But it cannot be used before the time comes."
"When will I know the time is right?" I said.
"It will happen when all is lost and hope has been crushed."
I was in the corner of a dark, dark room. I felt light, as though I were a ghost. No more than spectator. I could see the marble walls of the palace throne room cloaked in shadows. Rain was pouring on the glass windows, and thunder rolled in an echoing boom every few moments. I could see a man pacing in and out of the tall, towering shadows. It was a young man, perhaps my age. He wore a blue tunic and light pants. His eyes were wide and blue, and his hair was green at the roots, and yellow at the ends. It was Jak. It was my father.
Two guards walked into the room, their armor clicking and echoing off the empty walls. Jak turned his attention to them, and they bowed in silence.
"Majesty," one began. "Our investigation into the murder of the Queen Consort has turned up some rumors. There have been rumors that the murder may have been committed by Dash, former commander of the Krimzon Guard and ex collaborator of the Underground movement. The detectives recommend that we arrest and indict her on High Treason until further questioning takes place."
"Do it," he murmured. "What news have you about the kidnapping of the crown Princess? My daughter?"
"I regret to say that no new leads have sprung up. Keira, Samos and the others have simply vanished."
"They can't take her from me," he growled. "I want Janovah back here, safe. I want my special girl back. They stole her from me, just like they've taken everything else from me. Do not leave one square inch of the city untouched until you find her. And then, I want the traitors brought back here to be made examples of."
"Yes, Majesty."
Once again, I found myself floating as a spirit in a scene that took place long ago. I saw the front halls of the Palace. The stone walls were shiny and new. It was clear that the new Palace had just been built. And then, I saw her; Dash. She was dressed in her standard black leather outfit. Her black hair flowed beautifully. Her dark skin bore a heavy contrast from the silver tattoos that overtook her arms and face. She was young, and beautiful. I'd never seen her in such a way before. She walking silently towards the front doors, when around ten guards swarmed from all sides.
They surrounded, pointing their guns. She didn't look shocked or surprised. It was clear that she knew this was coming.
"Dash," one of the guards said. "You are determined to be a person of interest in the murder of the late Queen Consort, Ashlein. Surrender all of your weapons. We have instructions to bring you to the fortress and detain you for high treason."
She didn't react other than a smile. I could see her reaching behind her, fondling a silver, engraved handle.
"Put your hands in the air! No sudden movements!"
The movement she made was sudden indeed, swift as lightning. In a flash, the handle was out, in her hand, and a stream of molten fire spun in a long, graceful circle, hitting each guard in the head. Most dropped their weapons and screamed, clutching their burned faces. One remained armed, attempting to fire upon her, but he missed every shot, probably blinded by tears of pain. The flames subsided and she placed the whip back into the holster. Out of a sheath strapped to her hip, she withdrew a silver, curved blade. It was easily recognizable as Torn's knife. She jumped over to one of the guards that lay injured. She walked up behind him, lifting him by his armor. She wrapped one arm around his chest, and placed the knife to his throat.
"If any of you fire a shot, this man dies," she said. "I do not want to kill any of you, especially not this one. If memory serves, this man has a wife, a daughter and an infant son. But I will cut down each and every one of you if I must."
The one armed guard dropped his rifle in defeat. She began to back towards the door, dragging her hostage with her. But then, behind her, another guard stood, holding a pistol. He was dressed in yellow and blue; it must have been the commander.
"Not so fast," he said coldly to her. "War is a dirty thing, Dash. Your compassion and value for the lives of others will cost you this time." He raised the pistol to her head.
She spun rapidly, dropping her hostage, and ran her knife across his throat with speed and ferocity like I'd never seen before. Blood spurted from the commnder's neck. He gasped and gurgled, and fell to the floor, dead. A lake of blood began to pool around her feet. And then she ran. Out of sight, into the shadows...