Bridgeworlds: Rise of the Magi (9 page)

8

Decision

Omar and Sebastian stepped out of the cage carrying Myles. Omar stared in awe at the multitude of buildings in the city, glowing brightly despite being so deep beneath the surface of the water. Each one was made of shells and precious stones. As Omar slowly rotated, taking in the wonder of this place, they were all silent. Sebastian looked pleased with himself. Clearly he had hoped to astonish them.

One of the ’Am Mayim who saw them arrive ran over and greeted Sebastian. “Hello, my friend. It’s good to see you.”

Sebastian warmly returned the greeting. “It’s good to see you too, Reuben. I know it’s unusual to bring visitors to Takeleth, but they saved my life from a violent and hungry Kalat.”

Reuben was a tall ’Am Mayim with red hair, green eyes, and a regal air about him. He glanced over at Myles and Omar and exclaimed, “An Adam! Where did you come from? Did he say that you two killed a Kalat? Is that true, only the two of you? Why, back on Soterion, a Kalat has been known to take down three Raphad! How is it possible that an Adam and an Akana could overcome one all by themselves?”

Myles shook his head, bewildered. Omar couldn’t resist the urge to ask a question. “Reuben, please share your knowledge about the Raphad. We hear so little about them where we come from.”

“I only know as much as most people. They’re generally at least twenty feet tall, look somewhat like an Adam, and have an odd reverence for water.”

Omar nodded respectfully. Reuben seemed to sense that he was missing something about these strangers.

Before he could probe any further, Sebastian put his hand on Reuben’s shoulder. “We came in the hope that you could give us some help. The Kalat badly damaged Myles’ leg. It’s not just a scratch; it’s far more serious. Please accept for now that they are both weary travelers who have reached the Core of the Maze of Musterion but do not wish to answer any questions at this time.”

Reuben shrugged. “Well, for now, perhaps. But it’s definitely a story I would like to hear someday. Now, Sebastian, you know my father. I might be able to smooth over one surprise visitor by telling him that he killed a Kalat. But two visitors to the secret city would be totally unacceptable to him. Normally these things have to be discussed ahead of time. What I suggest is that you leave Myles here and you and Omar return to the city above. After all, my father will want to meet the first Adam to come here in a thousand years. And while he’s here, we will see what can be done about that leg of his.”

Sebastian looked at Omar and Myles and asked, “Is this acceptable? Remember, Omar, you do have an appointment with Ischus. You need to return anyway.”

Omar nodded. “Sure, it’s fine with me as long as Myles is okay with it.”

Myles laughed as he said, “Are you kidding me? Come on, look at this place! I’ve never seen a casino half as nice as this.”

Reuben smiled. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Before Omar left he handed Myles a book. “It’s a journal. Please write in it.”

Myles immediately wrote in the information about the Raphad. “Sure, Doc. No problem. It might help me to remember all the info that I’m being bombarded with.”

“Please be careful, Myles. I’ll hurry back as soon as I can.” Omar climbed into the glass cage. Reuben threw the rope attached to the cage up to the exterior of the bubble and an ’Am Mayim female caught the rope and began swimming upward with it.

It wasn’t long before Omar reached the surface and one of the ’Am Mayim gave him directions to city hall. He walked back down the alley they’d entered through and turned left, heading down the street toward the fountain. As he passed by the fountain and the café on his left, he thought about how their grand introduction to this world had taken place. It wasn’t how Omar had envisioned it, but Myles had definitely won them an initial acceptance. He smiled for a moment as he thought about how Myles had told him he knew how to work a crowd and that they might even get a hero’s welcome. But attacking the Kalat wasn’t how either of them had pictured it.

The city hall was the second building on the right after the fountain, so it was easy to find. As he approached, Omar looked up at the three-story building and saw steps leading up to the entrance and several columns that stood about 23 feet tall on either side in front of the entrance . Omar entered between the columns and through the arched doorway. In a grand lobby, twenty statues stood around the hall; seven to his left and thirteen to his right. One of the seven statues to his left was Ischus. All were from different species. But all the thirteen statues on his right were human, and each one had an eight-digit tattoo on the left arm.

Ischus approached Omar. “Ah yes, the elders. We do miss them. They helped us to gain vision and direction. Then one day they found a way out of the maze and left the rest of us behind. I see that you got your friend to a safe place. I think that Sebastian chose well with the ’Am Mayim. He’ll be well taken care of by them and he’ll be safe.”

Omar inquired, “Was it a Nepsah or a Haspen that followed us there?”

Ischus’ face turned sour. “The Council of Seven would never employ the services of a Haspen. After all, we wouldn’t want anyone to be poisoned or pickpocketed. We just needed to know that you were not going too far. However, you did and now not even I could reach your friend Myles. We weren’t aware that there was a passage to Takeleth within our own city. I’m hoping that you will provide me with enough information about what happened to the Kalat, so I won’t need to challenge King Kludon Thalassa. Takeleth is his Barony, you see. Come, sit with me and have some tea. We’ll talk.”

Omar followed Ischus to a magnificent library with several tables and chairs in the middle of the room. Once Omar was seated, Ischus strategically sat down across from him. They exchanged light conversation as a Gabad servant came over to the table, set down two cups and saucers, and poured their tea. Once the servant had left the room, however, Ischus began to talk again while Omar sipped the tea.

Noticing how marvelous it tasted, his thoughts drifted to where all of their supplies came from. Where would one get tea or real food in a world made of brick tunnels? Or was there more to this world that he had yet to see? He was counting on that being the case.

Ischus broke through Omar’s abstraction. “Omar, I need to ask you a few prying questions.”

“Please, ask away.” Omar braced himself to reveal as little as possible.

Ischus smiled. “I’ve noticed several things which have brought me to a startling conclusion. You’re not from Musterion or Soterion, are you? First, one can always tell the look of a person who doesn’t know where they are, and you both looked pretty lost and confused. Second, I’ve never seen an Akana with that tattoo before. You see, the original thirteen who came to Musterion carrying that tattoo didn’t come from Soterion. So please tell me where you’re really from.”

This patrician didn’t miss anything. He made no effort to charm me first. He is going straight for the facts and he wants answers.
But Omar tensed. After a moment of silence to gather his thoughts, he finally responded. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. I don’t see how that information has any relevance to your investigation. Just know that Myles and I mean you no harm. If you prefer, we’ll leave.”

Ischus slammed his fist down on the wooden table. The boom echoed throughout the library and the impact left a dent. A servant walking by in the hallway almost jumped out of his skin. Ischus took a deep breath. “You’ll have to excuse me, sir. I don’t often lose my composure. But then again, it isn’t often that someone tells me no. I understand that you don’t know how things work here. That’s why I struck the table and not you.”

His look took a threatening turn. “I rule this city, and I am the chairman of the Council of Seven. For all intents and purposes, I’m the king here and the penalty for not obeying my orders is usually death. Now I’m in no way threatening you at this moment, but I’m trying to make you understand your place here. The damage is already done. The Council of Six is waiting for me to appear before them and tell them why one of their people died in my city. I must and I will know who you are. There is no other option for you. I swear on my honor that I will protect your secret as long as your secret does no harm to my people. But I ask for the last time, where are you from?”

Omar breathed deeply and thought back quickly to all the history lessons he’d ever taken. He’d just flirted with death. To tell a king no was treason, and he was lucky to be alive right now. “Uh…ah…sir…I mean, Your Majesty, thank you for sparing my life and I apologize for my ignorance. I should’ve recognized your status. To answer your question, I’m actually a human, or what you’d call an Adam, from Earth, as is my friend, Myles. Somehow during our journey I was changed into what I am now and at that moment I acquired the 8-digit tattoo as well.”

Ischus dropped his tea and the cup shattered on the floor. A servant came to clean the mess, but Ischus stopped her, calling out. “You may clean it up later. I need everyone out, now! Put my ’Am Mayim guards at every corner of this building and make sure that there are no spies wandering about. Clear the hall completely; not even servants are allowed in until I give the word.”

The servant reacted with a look of fear but nodded, kept her head down, and quickly scampered off.

“Is everything all right?” Omar ventured, bewildered.

“Yes, I believe so, but you must come with me. I need to know every single thing that’s happened on your journey, and then I want you to tell me all about where you’re from.” Ischus went over to the books on the wall and pulled out a black, leather-bound book that caused the entire bookcase to open up, exposing a passageway behind it. Ischus pocketed the book and motioned for Omar to follow him through the opening. They went down a staircase to a large conference room containing a long table with seven chairs in the middle of the room. Ischus pulled a chair out for Omar took a seat at the head of the table. Ischus took out the book that he’d pocketed earlier and handed it to Omar with a smile.

The book was in German, one of the nine languages that Omar knew, so he read the cover out loud. Die Ganze Heilige Schrift, "The Bible". “Where in the world did you get this?”

Ischus explained, “Many years after the Twelve Elders had left us, Nekar, the thirteenth Adam who was left behind, came into the city and sat down at the fountain. He left this book sitting there. I had our best Akana scholars decode the language, and though it took them many years, they did it. I can now read that language, as can all the other council members who have read that book from cover to cover.”

Ischus turned solemn. His voice filled with sadness. “That book caused the split in our original council.”

Omar puzzled over this one book so profoundly affecting this archaic culture. It both baffled and disturbed him.

“My mind is spinning with questions, but let me say that I can understand that this book has caused division here. It has done that on Earth also. Religion has been the cause of 50% of Earth’s wars. The book you have here is from Earth, and it’s a collection of myths and stories designed to teach lessons. But in Earth’s culture today, its lessons have become obsolete. Humans have evolved beyond the archaic teachings of our superstitious ancestors.”

Ischus curled his lip. “You sound like one of the Council of Six. We used to have just one council, but we split because of this book. I’m one of the seven who believe the words of this book. The other six are the council members who did not believe. The two councils try to rule Musterion in harmony, but over the past few years it has gotten much harder.”

Omar looked down at the Bible, then back at Ischus, and shook his head. “But this book isn't even about your world or your people. It has nothing to do with you. How could you let it divide you that way?”

Ischus shook his head and leveled a finger at Omar. “That is not true, Omar! I will not argue with you on this matter. It does pertain to us; it pertains to all.”

Omar rubbed his face to try to keep the dissent from exploding out of his mouth. The mere existence of this other world could arguably disprove that book. “I must speak with Nekar. He must be from Earth. I want to know why he would leave this explosive material just lying around in this alternate dimension.”

“You think you want to speak with Nekar? He’s a mad man. Besides, you don’t find Nekar—he finds you. I believe he’s dangerous. Five years ago some Gabad children saw him wandering through the tunnels, and they started laughing and calling him names. I don’t know what he did to those three children, but only one of them speaks now. When that child is asked what happened he starts rocking back and forth and staring blankly. He’ll tell you everything except for what Nekar did to scare them so badly. All he’ll say is they shouldn’t have taunted Nekar. He hasn’t been seen since then.”

“How does all of this affect me and Myles?”

“In many different ways. You see, all Musterlings must choose to follow either the Council of Six or the Council of Seven. Leaving Musterion is not an option since only the twelve elders have ever escaped in the past thousand years. It’s easy to find your way to the center of the maze, which is where our civilization now lives. But to leave Musterion, you’d need the help of the Creator Himself. Once you come to this realization, you’ll need to make a choice.”

“I was raised as a Jew believing in what you call the Old Testament of this Bible. But when I became a man, as it says in the New Testament, I put away childish things. I realized that either there was no God to hear my prayers or there was a God but He’d forsaken all of His creation. As a scientist, I’ve seen abundant proof that mankind evolved, and they didn’t need God’s help to do it.”

Ischus sighed, lowering his head and shaking it in regret. “Then you’ve chosen, Omar. Tomorrow an emissary from the Council of Six will come to summon me, and I’ll send you to them. As a declared follower of the Council of Six, they’ll be the ones to judge you for the death of the Kalat. I don’t need to know what happened now and honestly I’m glad that scum is dead. Be careful, though, because you’ll find that there are both those of the moral and the immoral persuasion on the Council of Six. You need to hope that they’ll take a liking to you.”