Chapter One
The early evening winds carried the residual burning heat of the day across the shifting mountains of sand that rose and sloped downward into long flat planes of bleached rock and sandstone. Lonely dessert crawlers shuffled through the slippery granules of sand in search of hapless little shell beasts to pry apart and devour. The light of Alternia's dual moons reflected brilliantly against their glossy black claws as they scuttled about; wandering far from their deep burrows toward the lusher habitat of their preferred prey. Stalking through the undergrowth surrounding a large oasis, a large crawler began its deadly approach on a newly hatched shell beast, carefully opening its pincers it moved to strike-and was unexpectedly plucked up from the ground and deposited into a sturdy metal cage with no chance of escape.
"That's three, I only need one more about the same size and I'll be finished here." Cheerful and light, the pleased tone of the female poking at her caged conquest was enough to bring a warm smile to her companion's lips.
The two trolls stood near the shore line of the oasis, carefully hunting crawlers in the early hours of the night. The girl crouched low against the back drop of tall reeds, her layers of multicolored skirts gathered up into one bangle covered arm while she curled the fingers of her other hand in preparation for the catch. Thin, golden sandals softened the approach of her foot steps as she closed in on her target; deftly twisting her body in a graceful diving arc as she snatched up her prize between her long fingers and deposited it into the last empty cage near her companion. She set her hands on generous hips, a wide smile of accomplishment pulling her cherry red lips back over small, even fangs that glinted softly in the light. The sparkle of her eyes was full of excitement and promise, and mirrored the bright gleam of the row of red jewels that crowned her forehead on a golden chain that clasped the base of each wide, curling ram horn on either side of her head. She was Aradia Megido, Priestess to the Emissaries, eight sweeps of age and the only priestess allowed to leave the temple and serve in the palace, a gifted troll in summoning prayers and foretelling visions.
"Well Sollux, I would say that I won this round wouldn't you?" She jeered with a subtle fondness, sweeping a hand across the lids of her four cages. "It was a good effort you put in, even if you only caught one."
Her companion stood nearby, returning her exuberant triumph with a look of measured amusement. His taller frame cut a striking stance against the dark reeds with his finely tailored white pants and jeweled vest, rich blue shirt and the flared red sash about his narrow waist. Golden bands encircled his lower arms, trapping the ends of his puffed sleeves between his skin and the embellished metal. The alternating blue and red jewels that dangled from the encircling band between his four horns and fell across the ridge of his brow mimicked the dual toned hue of his eyes; leaving no doubt of his genetic lineage, inherent abilities and the unique status he was graced with. This was the Kharonsi, heir to the throne of Dioscuritous, and protege of the great Psionic, who ruled as the Kharonii of Alternia's western kingdom.
"Aradia if you're finished gloating over your catch can we please head back? As much as I love standing around waiting for creepy crawlies to come scuttling to your beck and call there are other matters I need to devote time to before sunrise." His lisp was as strong as ever, doing his title a serious dishonor, but most of the kingdom tolerated it with as little notice as was possible, particularly Aradia, who felt a deep bond with the boy that had grown since their first meeting six sweeps prior. She had come to see Sollux as a close friend and often did what she could to rouse him out from his private rooms to go tramping through the markets with her or out into the desert on her collection errands. He never objected to going, though he often insisted that she was keeping him from important matters by the end of their little excursions.
Aradia knew full well that Sollux spent most of his time studying old mechanical diagrams and manuals, and very little of his time was devoted to learning the procedures for running the kingdom he was to inherit someday, but she had faith that he would come to see the importance of his subjects over his tinkering soon enough. The biggest problem he had in her opinion was being too hard on himself all the time. If he could just relax and not over think every decision he made, he would find trying to rule so much easier. She sighed at her own thoughts as she readied the cart of cages for transport back to the city. She laid a gentle hand on the white wool beast tethered to her wooden cart and affectionately stroked its fleece.
"You're always holing up in your rooms and messing with your machines." She fussed softly, casting a mildly disapproving glance over her shoulder at him. "You know you should be at the Kharonii's side learning the ways of our court systems, or at the very least out mingling with your subjects and coming to better understand their way of life."
"They're engines not machines, and I don't mess with them. I construct them, program them and improve them entirely with the purpose of enhancing the life of my subjects." Sollux scowled almost petulantly while starting down the path toward the city with Aradia and her cart at his side. "I have plenty of time to sit and listen to boring court affairs any time I choose, but finding ways to improve water purification or enhance the percentage of energy the solar drums collect, all those things require careful attention and calculating and it doesn't happen in a single night." He looked up at the raised bars of the city gate, a small smile tugging the corners of his lips up over his protruding fangs as he viewed the rising towers of communal hives and thriving shops that packed in closely along every winding street within Dioscuritious.
Market lanes were brimming with eager merchants excitedly advertising their wares, local growers offered fragrant desert flowers and fruits for half price and traders from the sea had traveled down the river to cart their distant treasures out before curious eyes. Heady spices and aromatic perfumes filled the air of the streets and the warm glow of firelight cast an orange hue across the walls of the hives lining the narrow, crowded streets. Aradia and Sollux charted a careful path through the bustling crowds, avoiding the busier streets when they could as they approached the wide, almost conical hive at the heart of the city. Two large towers jutted out at either side of the central building, rounded roof tops layered in gold capping each as it stood proudly against the stars of the night sky. The hustle and bustle of every day life became quieter as they neared the palace, offering small pleasantries to the guards that stood dutifully on street corners and at their posts outside the palace gate. Their city was considerably more peaceful than the other capitols, violence and criminal activity were rare, but Aradia often believed that was due to their location. It was difficult to cause a stir of trouble in a place where the only route of escape led to a barren desert.
The cart swayed gently from side to side as the small wool beast tottered along at an easy gait, seeming almost eager to be back within familiar walls. Aradia affectionately curled her fingers through its fleece once more, deeply inhaling the scent of herbs and desert flowers that floated on the breeze blowing through the palace gardens down the left corridor. She often spent her final hours before sleep strolling the winding paths of plants and fountains, allowing her thoughts and cares to drift away on the breeze. Usually her thoughts were of her friends, concerns for their well being and particularly for the royal troll now quietly brooding at her side. She glanced at him from the corners of her eyes, observing his sullen expression and the discontented droop of his shoulders. Within the past three sweeps she had noticed a slow decline in her friend's mood. He seemed restless lately, displeased with the regulations and duties expected of him, and above all he was always frustrated. He was constantly dropping comments about feeling trapped. Aradia knew their Kharonii was deeply reserved about allowing his heir to leave the city, she had accidentally witnessed a few of their more heated exchanges about the matter, but she also knew that he never made a decision without well judged reason. If she could only help her friend to understand that they might have a closer relationship, or so she believed.
"Sollux? I need to take the crawlers to my chambers now." Aradia paused to see if her companion was paying attention, pursing her full lips in mild annoyance when he neither blinked or mumbled to acknowledge her. She tried again, then took a breath and sharpened her tone. "Sollux? Hey!"
The young royal startled somewhat from his deep thoughts, owlishly blinking at her before lifting a hand to sheepishly rub the back of his neck. "Sorry Aradia, I guess I was distracted." He gave her a half-hearted grin, shrugging his shoulders lightly before dropping a hand to pat her wool beast once on the back. "I'll catch up with you later okay? And please don't look at me like that, don't worry so much. You're worse than any over bearing caretaker he ever appointed for me." He snorted softly, waving away her furrowed brows and concerned frowns. She made a move as if to continue with her side of the conversation, then paused and shook her head.
"Fine, but you know where to find me if you decide you want to talk about anything." Giving him a final warm smile, she took her wool beast's tether and turned down a narrow corridor, her figure and the cart slipping between shadow and the splashes of moon light that spilled through the ornate open windows of the passage roof. Sollux watched her for a few minutes before a deep sigh heaved itself up from his chest, pulling his narrow form into a hunch as he continued on his own path up a a winding stair case and down two more corridors. He barely acknowledged the guards and servants he passed, had no concern for anything other than getting back to his work.
Normally, he would by pass the throne room, making every attempt possible to get to one of the two passageways that circled off to the left or right and swept off in the direction of one of the two towers. Tonight the air around the main hall felt tense, almost electric with strained power and he could practically taste the pulse of barely contained energy emanating from beyond the half closed doors. Pausing just a few feet away, he considered investigating what could possibly be causing so much tension in his elder but had little time to wonder as a servant came rushing from behind the doors, turning a frantic gaze about the hall before spotting him and closing the distance between them with such distress that Sollux had little doubt the matter was serious.
"The Kharonii requires your presence immediately! Please come inside Kharonsi it is very urgent!" He pulled nervously at his fingers, chewing at his lower lip in a manner that Sollux had never recalled seeing before. He inhaled a hissing breath as he accompanied the stressed troll back to the throne room.
On a typical evening this room would be humming with activity. Servants would be bustling about with food or drink or in special cases providing some form of entertainment. Privileged guests would be seated at the low table on plush cushions, discussing business or observing the court dancers. The room would pulse with vibrant music and laughter and the smell of fine food would mingle with the heady fragrances of incense. Guards would keep a watchful eye over the room from both blatant and hidden locations. Typically, the Kharonii would be settled in his golden throne, exchanging quiet conversation with one of his guests while his favored slave lounged near his feet like a prized pet.
Sollux had never cared much for owning slaves. He had believed that his elder would be deeply opposed to the idea after his own treatment at the hands of the Condescension, but he had never questioned his elder on the subject. As long as he wasn't pressed to take a slave of his own, he didn't care much to delve into the tastes of his elder.
Things were very different this evening. No music played, only a few servants hustled about with nervous energy and not a single slave was anywhere to be seen. Every guard appeared tense, their thick hands clenched about the pommels of their sabers as if expecting the sudden need to draw them from their sides. The Kharonii sat straight and stern upon his throne, his long ringed fingers steepled together before his chest. A single troll Sollux did not recognize stood near to the throne, rocking back and forth on his feet with the same anxious aura that permeated the room. His clothing was not like any of the usual merchant's garb that came from the northern sea ports so he could only guess this visitor had brought some ill news over a land transport. That would make him a dignitary of some sort, likely from Caeciliacorinna, the central capitol. It was a harsh journey from Red Glare's kingdom to their own and one rarely made unless absolutely necessary. Sollux could recall only one other time when dignitaries had come from the central territory and he had been far too young then to be privy to the reasons behind their visit.
He strode forward to kneel before his elder's throne, meeting the mirrored eyes of his Kharonii, the troll who had chosen him above all other grubs to become heir to the kingdom. The somber gaze was tainted with a brimming ire that he suspected was the reason for the prickling taste of fury in the air. He could faintly detect the subtle haze of red and blue energy wisps curling about in narrow tendrils around his elder's eyes. Whatever news had been delivered it had greatly unsettled the great psionic, and that was both dangerous and rare. He rose to his feet, casting a curious glance at the fidgeting dignitary to his left as he took his place on the ornate cushion beside the throne.
Firmly pressed lips parted around large fangs, the crease in his elder's brow deepening as he turned a deeply troubled look upon his heir. His timbre was heavy with concern and thinly veiled wrath, unlike any tone Sollux had ever heard from him in all their time together. "Aquaria has attacked one of the northern cities that belong to the central kingdom. The entire city has been destroyed, every structure obliterated. A handful of trolls managed to escape the rest were either slaughtered or taken captive. Red Glare has sent messengers to the Western and Eastern kingdoms, pleading a meeting of the Trifecta to help her discern the best course of action." He paused for a slow breath, his gaze focused intently upon his young heir.
"I am leaving within the hour by ship to answer her request. While I am away, you are to be in charge of the kingdom. Do not make any brash decisions Sollux. I am entrusting you with the protection of our people. No one knows the location of Aquaria and it is impossible to tell when or where those wretched sea trolls will strike next. Keep our cities safe, do not allow our people to panic and do not forget what you have learned. You are my Kharonsii, Sollux, I know you are capable of this task." He allowed the faintest curve of a smile to tug the corners of his mouth upward, looking down on his heir with a mixture of affection and pride. Sollux's chest felt strangely tight as he stared back at his elder, the burden of his duty weighing his mind down with doubt and fear but the confidence of his elder allowed him to find enough will power to set his fist across his chest and bow his head respectfully.
"Very well, I am taking my leave then to prepare. You should take this time to meet with Cisera and determine how you will improve the security of the city." Sollux offered a subdued affirmative as they both rose from their respective seats, casting a final glance between lord and heir before parting to head down separate halls. Sollux could hear the measured foot steps of his elder echo softly against the corridor walls and felt a deep pull of worry in his chest as he turned to descend a winding stair case to the main guard chamber. He couldn't help the nagging whispers in his mind, couldn't ignore the heavy sense of disaster that loomed as a thick shadow over his thoughts.