Dripping Wings
When Yuugi awoke that morning to the sound of his chamber doors bursting open loudly, a panicked voice on the other side, he couldn't say he was surprised.
Isis was clutching her silk robe closed, as she had hastily thrown it over her night gown. "You're Majesties, El-Ekehrah is under attack. Questchal has declared war."
Atemu sat up with such a start Yuugi nearly fell off the bed. "We'll be right there," he barked. Isis nodded to his response and closed the door again.
Yuugi noticed how Atemu looked very pale as he crawled out of their bed and started to dress. Yuugi could only guess at the thoughts that were currently running through his head. This is the beginning of the end. He must be terrified. He quickly pulled on his royal garbs. The silvery-blue and royal purple of his clothes gleamed in the morning sunlight that streamed in from the balcony doorway. It seemed those two colors had come to be designated as his, while Atemu always wore black, dark red, and deep purples. "Atemu," he asked as he finished buttoning his shirt.
"Whatever it is, Yuugi. It'll probably have to wait. We have to be in the conference hall ten minutes ago."
"Atemu," Yuugi stressed. "Look at me."
The Prince-turned-King looked at his bonded partner in mild concern. The brow above his deep ruby-red eyes knitted in worry. "What is it?"
Yuugi took a deep breath. He hoped he could word this delicately enough. "Atemu...I know what will happen once we truly engage Questchal in battle. I know...that the Goddesses have death planned for me. I know that I will die within the month."
The look Atemu gave him could have made one believe that Yuugi had just told him he didn't love him anymore.
Through their link, Yuugi allowed every ounce of love and devotion he could conjure up and flooded Atemu's consciousness. Atemu reeled in the after affects and nearly lost his footing. For a moment, he almost lost his vision in the onslaught of emotion, too. When he could focus again, Yuugi had his arms wrapped around him in a hug. "I'm not afraid, my love. I am at peace with what is to come."
"Yuugi," Atemu began. "I can't bear the thought of life without you. How can you...how is it you don't seem affected?" His unvoiced question of 'Don't you care?' flitted through their link.
"Oh, Atemu," Yuugi's grief from the night before surfaced in his mind. His lover felt the heart-wrenching pain Yuugi was still trying to keep at bay. "Of course I care. That's why..." he sniffed as a tear fell down his face. "That's why I can do this." Atemu suddenly couldn't tell the difference between his grief and that of Yuugi's. "You're going to be safe. Safe, Atemu! I can save all of you! Everyone I care about! Our daughter will never have to go to war with Questchal. Isn't that worth something?" He started to sob.
"I love you," was his response. "More than anything, I love you above all else." He buried his head in Yuugi's soft hair. "I don't know where you find all of this courage."
Yuugi gave a half-hearted laugh. "Don't be silly, Atemu. I get my courage from you. I couldn't do this without you."
The King would have responded, but there was a sudden noise of people yelling outside in the hall. The two rulers were brought back to the reality at hand.
Sekesha was at war, after a over a hundred years of peace.
With only half a second of thought between the two, all of the unsaid words and emotions and promises of support and more conversation to come was expressed. They smiled at each other as Atemu dried Yuugi's tears, and they left their bedroom.
The palace was in an uproar. Scribes were running around like madmen. Reports from the front lines kept pouring in from the communication orbs Guardians and mage's used to speak to each other across the country.
Isis, Jono, Mai, and the rest of the Divine Council was already in the largest conference hall by the time Yuugi and Atemu got there. All of the officials stood up as soon as the Kings entered, and they bowed deeply. "Your Majesties, the reports from El-Ekehrah are not good," Councilman Seth explained. "An army five thousand strong is marching on El-Ekehrah's first line of defenses. Border outposts are being attacked multiple times a day, and we've currently lost eight of the twelve out-posts we had."
"What about Pelliah's Pass?" Atemu inquired.
Yuugi remembered, vaguely, about Pelliah's Pass. As Questchal was nestled in the foot-hills of terribly rugged mountains and was littered with cliffs and deep river gorges, the Pass was one of the few safe ways through and around Questchal. It was one of the only ways for a large amount of people to come around to the other side of the country, as it was really quite small compared to Sekesha, being only a three day's ride across, if it weren't for the terrible terrain.
"Blocked," Seth stated. "Trolls, Giants, and Ogres are standing on constant guard. There's no way an army would be able to break through without losing half of it's soldiers, if they were lucky."
Yuugi sent his thoughts to Atemu, who reluctantly agreed. "Atemu and I should go to El-Ekehrah," Yuugi spoke. "We'll be much more able to assess the situation there, and ready to fight ourselves."
Jono, for the first time, looked a little worried. "Is it really necessary, my Lord, for you both to fight? We have plenty of good soldiers ready to fight-"
"I am the strongest mage Sekesha has ever seen," Yuugi cut in. "All of you know it." There was no denying the conviction in his voice. "I wouldn't even have to breathe to wipe out half of the army lined up in front of our desert capital at this very moment. It is absolutely crucial that I get to El-Ekehrah as fast as possible. Jono, assemble your battalion. Mai, assemble half of yours. Atemu and I will leave with those assembled soldiers through one of my portals at sunset today. Mai, I want you to stay here with your remaining troops. I don't want to leave the Divine City absolutely defenseless."
Atemu's lips thinned, but he did not refute what Yuugi said. "Agreed. Yuugi and I, with the rest of the Council, will go over the maps and information that's been gathered so far. There's no time to waste."
And with that, Mai and Jono left the hall with grim but determined faces. After all, it was the day they'd all really been waiting for, and dreading, to come. It was only a matter of time now. "I'm going to miss him," Mai said to Jono.
The cavalry captain agreed. "Atemu will never be the same again without him. I don't know if I'm ready for that world, yet."
xxx
The Sacreds were restless as the Kings and their army made their way through Yuugi's portal. Perhaps, the only Sacred that was calm and unflinching in the evening wind was Astarte. Her sober eyes and smooth movements gave Yuugi a small bit of calm as they walked towards the storm of warfare before them.
When Yuugi and Atemu went through the portal, they left a silver city behind them, and entered a gold one instead.
It was sunset in El-Ekehrah. Most of the buildings were built out of yellow colored adobe bricks. In the fading sunlight, red and bronze and russet hues colored the walls and roofs of every structure. Temples, monolith structures, and the palace of the High Guardian in the center of the city were built out of a gold colored marble.
And everything was so tall. Yuugi knew the desert capital city was considered the domain of the Sun Goddess. It was easy to see why.
The noise in the city that night was almost deafening. Yuugi was barely able to hear Atemu's thoughts as they made their way through the streets up to the central palace. Soldiers of El-Ekehrah lined the streets in greeting for them. Citizens were piled up behind them, eager to catch a glimpse of Sekesha's royalty.
Yuugi was amazed at the kaleidescope of colors that was the fabric of this place. People wore everything from purples, blues, greens, and reds, to bright gold and shimmering bronze jewelry. Many of the buildings were not made with adobe ceilings. Instead, fabric and canvas awnings were pulled over them to help block out the sun. Many of the buildings had the awnings rolled back, now that the sun was setting, to allow the cool evening breeze to blow in. I feel like I've been dropped into ancient Persia.
It would have felt like Persia, too, if it weren't for all of the Sekeshan imagery, iconography, and statues of Goddesses that clung to the walls of the temples and nooks of building and balconies of the central palace as protectively as they did to the buildings of the Divine City. If I liked deserts, I could be home right now.
The palace of the High Guardian was barely half the size of the Eternal Palace, but it was still the largest building in El-Ekehrah. Yuugi knew that High Guardians acted like the arms of the ruler, and were selected each by hand to reside over the larger cities of Sekesha. Their powers were more like a governor, and major actions that had the potential to change the entire city were always directed to the Divine City. Yuugi did not know who the High Guardian of El-Ekehrah was, but he was about to meet them soon.
When they finally reached the palace, Yuugi felt the slightest hint of exhaustion begin to creep up behind his eyes. He and Atemu had been up since early that morning, and they hadn't taken even a small break all day. It was well into the evening by the time they reached the palace gates, and all he wanted to do was sleep, and allow his weary, aching muscles a chance to relax.
A man with hair the color of corn silk walked through the gates as they were opened up by palace guards. He wore garments of white and yellow linen, and he wore a sash the color of gold around his torso. Yuugi noticed the man had an affinity for gold jewelry, as he wore a lot of it. His skin was very tan from the desert sun, and lavender colored eyes greeted them with determination and a hint of concern.
"Your Highnesses, it is my honor to welcome you to El-Ekehrah. Your presence here has been highly anticipated." He bowed low during his greeting.
"Thank you, High Guardian Marik," Atemu replied. "I must admit, it's been quite a while since I've seen you."
Marik looked up at Atemu and smiled. "Likewise, my King. Please, come inside. The attendants will take care of your Sacreds, and my Guardians here will help get the troops settled. We have much to discuss."
Yuugi dismounted and followed Atemu as they made their way up to the palace. He looked up into the sky full of fading sunlight, and saw about six dragons, all of varying shades, fly overhead. Scouts, or soldiers returning from the front lines? Yuugi didn't know for sure. He knew, though, that he was about to find out.
The palace of the High Guardian of El-Ekehrah was like a small, inverted version of the Eternal Palace. It, too, was filled with rows and rows of hallways, ante-chambers, colonnades, conference rooms, and resting chambers.
The colonnades were brightly painted with designs of what looked like plant life, animals, and vines. Yuugi was reminded of ancient Egyptian imagery from his own world. The palace, unlike the smaller buildings that littered the streets of the city, had its own ceiling which towered high above his head. The ceiling must have been four or five stories tall. Yuugi marveled at the architecture.
After what felt like hours, they finally made it into a large conference hall. There were maps and scrolls everywhere. It looked like a war room. Marik made his way to the table and looked down at it, his brow furrowed with thought. He leaned his arms on the table and looked up at the Kings. His expression was grim. "It's not looking good."
Yuugi did not like the way he started the conversations for the evening.
"Tell me," Atemu said.
Marik rubbed his face with one of his calloused hands. "Questchal has us outnumbered three to one, even with the new troops that you've brought. They've been building this army up for much longer than any of us realized. They must have recruited every man and young boy capable of holding a weapon. They've swarmed and overwhelmed our outposts. There's only a couple left that are still holding out. Once they've been lost, the magick that has been used to keep our border secure will fall, and the army of Questchal will be able to start it's march on the city walls itself."
Yuugi looked at the largest map that was spread out on the table in from of him. "It would make sense, then, that we attempt to reclaim one of the outposts. As many Guardians as we can spare. I will lead them myself. Clearly, the more outposts we have, the harder time Questchal will have in crossing the border."
Marik looked at Yuugi like he was mad. "That would be suicide, my lord. None of us are strong enough to overthrow the numbers they currently have stationed at the captured out-posts. I cannot send my men and women willingly to death."
Yuugi frowned. "I alone would be enough. I only need the army for backup."
His eyes widened with shock and disbelief.
"It is true," Atemu assured his High Guardian. "Yuugi is our greatest weapon against Questchal."
Marik stood up straight again. "So it's true then, what the rumors have said. Word spread like a plaque across Sekesha. A real Assai? My Lord, are you serious?" The Guardian's lavender eyes shifted to Yuugi. If Yuugi was reading the expression correctly, it looked half hopeful, half disbelieving.
He sighed. "There's no use it trying to hide it anymore. Soon, everyone will see for themselves anyway. I cannot hide it whilst in battle for long." Yuugi reached up and unclipped the cape from around his shoulders. Once the blue material was free and had fallen to the floor, Yuugi allowed his wings to be free of the in-between dimension. He flapped them a little for good measure and allowed himself the small indulgence of feeling the air move through his feathers.
One of his silvery feathers landed softly on the table, right next to a tiny black statue of a Questchal figurine.
"Holy Goddesses," Marik breathed. He fell to his knees in a deep bow. "Forgive my ignorance." He clutched a fist to his chest, which was clinging desperately to the front of his clothing. "I will follow you to the end, my King."
Yuugi's face softened. This was the part of royalty he didn't like. "Stand up, Marik. You needn't bow so low to me."
He also didn't understand why such modesty made his subjects all the more loyal.
Marik did stand, though he was not quite so steady on his legs this time. "We will follow your orders, your Highness, wherever they lead us. However, there is still one thing you should know."
When he turned around and started to walk towards one of the exists of the room, Yuugi and Atemu shared a look as they followed him.
"You both would know that our fighters are unmatched. We are the stronger country. Questchal has been biding its time for a reason beyond its usual madness. They have a weapon that we have not seen before."
"What is it," Yuugi asked. Part of him was curious, part of him was afraid of what it would be.
Marik shrugged a little. "Truthfully, we don't really know. The healers are calling it 'God-Magick.' They've never really seen anything like it on this plane before. The weapons the Questchal army is using seems to be infected with some kind of poison the healers aren't able to remove from the system. It's affects are terrible. It incapacitates the victim almost instantly. The healer's say its traces are divine in nature, but the element of divinity seems so tainted its almost an inky blackness that consumes the victim whole."
By the time Marik had finished his explanation, they'd reached the end of yet another hall and were at the entrance of another room. Marik opened up and the door and let them in. Inside, there were two healers that were sitting over the form of a man that was laid out on the bed. The man was writhing in a lot of pain, and made pitiful moaning sounds as he struggled against invisible restraints. Marik's face was pained when he looked back at Yuugi and Atemu. "This is the Captain of the El-Ekehrah Dragonforces, Tristan. He's been like this since last night, when the first attack came."