Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream (11 page)

Bleath saw the community feeling Scotty’s thoughts, and he could feel a hatred of those that are oppressors rise among the warriors. “The Elders and I have decided to give a gift to help the White Hair in his quest.” The community looked at Bleath wondering what he was planning. “There is real danger to our friends if we fly into those lands. We are going to give our ancestor’s Zeckas to protect them.” The community was stunned. Bleath expected a huge negative howl at the suggestion, but it didn’t come.

Zreeg thought so all could hear, “I formally request that in the event of my death, you send my Zecka to the two-legs. I can think of no holier use of it than protecting those that faced the jaws for my children.” The leader of the six three year olds behind him added their thoughts to his, “We also ask for the same holy use of our Zeckas. We saw them fight and die so we could live.” Hundred of the warriors shouted to add their names to the request.

Bleath was both humbled and gladdened by the community’s response. He knew the holiness of the Zecka. He looked out at the gathering and asked, “Do any object to what I am asking of you?”

Silence dominated the community. Bleath looked around and continued, “Vring, Zreeg, and Cezee will carry the Zeckas with me to the two-leg’s community tomorrow night. They are the chosen brothers of White Hair and Four Arms. We will make our offering and plead that they accept it. I know they will be reluctant because of the goodness in their heart. However, I will prevail and make them do it. I thank you for your faith in doing this, and I know they will give the Zeckas the honor they are due.”

Scotty was sitting with Jingo seeing the love they had for their newborn baby girl. The grunds were howling around the community and everyone knew that Jesa’s baby had arrived. Jesa was holding her and Jingo had his arms around them staring into the face of his new baby girl. “Have you thought of a name?”

Jesa looked up at Scotty and said, “She will be called Maddy.”

Scotty jerked in surprise.

“We can’t think of any name more worthy than your mother’s, Scotty.”

Scotty felt the tears gather in his eyes, but fought them off. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

Suddenly they heard a loud screech overhead and Jingo said, “That’s Bleath. What is he doing coming here?”

Scotty felt immediate stress. He had not told anyone about his planned trip. This had to be the Zord coming to persuade him not to go. He said, “Jingo, I haven’t told you; I’m making a trip. I think the Zord are here to try and stop me.”

“Why would they want to stop you?”

Scotty shook his head, “Uh, it might involve a tiny bit of danger.”

Jingo stared at Scotty and looked up at the ceiling, “If Bleath came here personally to try and stop you there is a lot more than just a little bit of danger.”

Scotty sighed and said, “I just couldn’t take away from this joyous moment to tell you.”

Jesa looked at Jingo and said, “Better gather your things. I know who you are and you should go.”

Jingo stared at his mate and child, then said, “Tell me what you’re planning on the way to the fire.”

Scotty began filling him in as they headed toward the clearing.

Jing and Samuel came running into the clearing and heard the three horns start sounding. The two communities dressed quickly and began moving rapidly towards the central clearing. Something was happening, and it had to be serious for the Zord to make an unannounced visit.

The communities finally gathered and Jing was starting to wonder why the Zord had not landed. Then he saw the huge form coming down and recognized Bleath. This had to be serious for him to come.

Bleath landed and looked at Jing and Samuel, “I have come to ask permission to help White Hair in his quest.”

The entire community looked at Scotty and saw his apprehension. Samuel said, “You want to tell us what he’s talking about, Scotty?”

Scotty saw Samuel was not in a good humor. Jing was also staring at him. He shrugged at Jingo and stood and walked to the three at the center of the community. He looked up at the giant Zord and said, “I have not shared my plans with the community, Great Flyer. I was going to go alone.”

Jingo yelled, “He just told me about it and he is not going alone!”

Jing looked at his son and said, “We’ll see about that.”

Jingo looked at his father and replied, “There is nothing to see, Father. I will go.”

Everyone in the community felt fear for Jingo. He was challenging the chosen leader of the Cainth. They saw Jing’s immediate anger.

Bleath said, “We were going to humbly ask you to accompany White Hair on his quest because of the great danger he will face.”

Jing’s anger evaporated. “What danger?”

Scotty took a deep breath and said where everyone could hear, “I learned three days ago that there are large numbers of people that are being held as slaves by a species of yellow-colored beings north of here. They have been enslaved for centuries and are being treated brutally. I decided that I had to go see if I could help them. I told my flyer that if he wouldn’t take me I would walk. He said he had to get permission to go, and I assume Bleath is here to try and talk me out of it.”

Bleath looked down at Scotty and said, “I saw your thoughts when my son returned. I could see there was no possibility of persuading you not to go.”

Scotty took a deep breath and nodded, “You’re right. Slavery violates every tenant of what I believe. I cannot remain idle and not do something to help those victims.”

Jing and Samuel looked at Scotty and Jing said, “Why don’t you tell us what you know?”

Bleath said, “I will share with you the visions of my warriors that have flown over those lands.” The community saw thousands of different species toiling in giant fields tending crops. Standing on hills overlooking the slaves were huge yellow creatures watching the workers. As they watched the vision, they saw one of the guards fire a weapon at a worker that had sat down because of fatigue. The bright white beam vaporized the worker. Then they saw a black-colored ship parked next to the tree line suddenly fire a beam, and the viewer saw one of his brothers hit and burn. The Zord fell from the sky toward the ground.

Jingo felt Jesa take a quick breath and look at him. “What, Jesa?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

The view changed as the viewer started flying an erratic path until it went below the hills. A bright white beam passed overhead as it flew below the safety of the hill line.

Bleath stopped the vision and said, “There is great danger to enter the domain of those yellow creatures. They possess the ancient weapons of your former masters. We worry that White Hair will be seen if he flies there.”

Samuel looked up at Bleath, “Are you going to allow your warriors to venture into that killing ground?”

“Of course! The quest of White Hair is worthy of undertaking. The suffering of those being oppressed is also our responsibility if White Hair has chosen to free them.”

The two leaders looked at Scotty and he saw their anger. “Jing, Samuel, I must go.”

Jing said, “Our anger is not directed toward you, Scotty. You would not be your mother’s son if you turned your back on them. But Bleath is right. You will be seen and they will kill you.”

Bleath then said, “I have come tonight to deliver a gift from my community.”

Everyone looked up at the Zord and he said, “The reason he would be seen is because we cannot hide him. Our color shifting does not cover the bindings or the rider on us. We have brought our ancestor’s Zeckas to remedy that problem.”

Scotty looked up and asked, “What is a Zecka?”

Bleath issued a loud scream and Vring, Zreeg, and Cezee flew into the clearing, landed, and placed three large, light green-colored squares on the ground. Bleath said, “These are the skins of ancestors that have died over the centuries. They are revered and considered holy by my community.” Bleath walked forward and placed one of his wings on a square and it disappeared.

The entire community was stunned. Scotty stared at the spot where the square was and couldn’t see it.

Bleath removed his wing and the square reappeared. “Our skins do not lose their ability to change color when we die. If a living Zord touches a Zecka, it will begin shifting color again. We ask that you make clothing and bindings from our Zeckas so your riders will not be seen on our backs. We humbly request that the first two be made for White Hair and Four Arms.”

Scotty looked up and shouted, “Bleath, we cannot use your Zeckas! They deserve to be kept and honored by your community. How can we accept something so priceless? We cannot do this!”

Samuel said, “I agree, Great Flyer. This is something we are not deserving of; we are honored at your gift, but cannot accept.”

The four Zord listened to the two-legs and knew their ancestors would be well treated by the two communities. Bleath listened and knew he had done the right thing. He raised his wings and the gathering grew silent. “You do not understand the honor of this gift.”

Scotty looked at Bleath and asked, “What do you mean?”

“All of our warriors have petitioned me to send their Zeckas to you when they die.”

Scotty was stunned. Jingo walked up and joined him.

Bleath said, “You give honor to our ancestors by accepting them. Your people are considered holy by my community for your bravery in killing the Torg, and the lost archers that gave their lives to save us. Our Zeckas could not be in a holier place than on the archers of your communities. I also pray you will accept my Zecka when I leave this life. The honor you would give me in accepting it would humble me and all my warriors feel the same. Our ancestors would insist their Zeckas be used to protect the ones that saved us. It is not you who are unworthy, it is us. You would do us great honor to accept our gift.”

The community was silent. Scotty listened to Bleath and lowered his head. He looked up at the four Zord, then walked forward and bowed in front of the three squares of Zord Zeckas. The community rose, walked slowly forward, and bowed with Scotty. The Zord heard Scotty say, “Great Flyers, we are unworthy of your offering. We give you honor and we thank you for your help in making our world a better place for our people to live. We will always give you respect and honor before we don your Zecka. We welcome you in our quest to save those who are in danger from evil. Should any of us fall in our quest, we will return you to your people. We will never forget the meaning of your gift, and will never dishonor it.”

The four Zord imprinted the memory of that moment and would pass it on to their descendants. They were moved beyond words. They lifted from the community and left them to their prayers.

Several of the women stepped forward and took some of the material. They measured Scotty and Jingo for an hour. Finally, Scotty and Jingo went to Jesa, and she handed Maddy to Jingo. Jingo looked at her and said, “What’s wrong, Jesa?”

Jesa looked at Scotty and he saw her apprehension. “Scotty, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What, Jesa?”

“I was there the day your mother was killed. I saw what happened as I ran into the forest and climbed one of the gings.”

Scotty furrowed his brow, “What are you saying?”

“Scotty, that ship the Zord showed us is the same ship that landed here fifteen years ago. The one that fired that weapon and killed that poor slave is the one that killed your mother!”

Scotty was stunned beyond words.

Jingo looked at Jesa, “Are you sure?”

“Jingo, I will never forget that moment. The ship had the evil Duke’s symbol on the back, and part of it was slightly burned on the “E”. I’m certain it was the same ship, and I will never forget the one that killed Madeline.”

Scotty felt his rage grow. His eyes narrowed, and the two Cainth saw his anger.

“Scotty, don’t do something stupid.”

Scotty looked at Jingo, “We leave in two days to scout their lands. I want the Zord Riders ready to go as quickly as possible. Jesa, try to make the seamstress’ get their uniforms ready quickly.”

“What are you thinking, Brother?”

“I was just going to try and save the slaves. Now I know those creatures. We will not allow them to harm anyone else.”

Jingo looked at Jesa, “You know he’s right.”

“Jingo, if they came once, they’ll come again. Go and protect our daughter.”

Scotty looked at the vision of the Zord again and focused on the one with the blaster. His rage continued to grow.

Circling high overhead, Vring listened to Jesa’s revelation. He felt Scotty’s rage and when he looked at Jesa’s memory of his mother’s death he felt an anger that threatened to overwhelm him. He went back to the gathering just as his father finished sharing what had happened at the two-leg communities. Vring landed and shared what he had learned from Jesa. Bleath felt the rage of the warriors. Now this quest was a holy war for the Zord. The warriors lifted to practice their flying. The flock was preparing for war. Nothing on the planet was more dangerous that a Zord warrior. Bleath knew the yellow skins were going to pay a heavy price for their treachery.