Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream Read online

  Vring continued to stare at the sky and said, “I’ve seen what you speak of in your mind. There are times one must lose everything to understand and appreciate what they take for granted.”

  “It was too high a price, Vring. Trillions have died in the aftermath of that loss. No one remained strong enough to control those bent on absolute power. Now we are only a shadow of what we were.” Scotty took a deep breath, “We lost so much.” Scotty looked at the stars and said, “I dream of finding those out in those stars that have learned this lesson and long to be rejoined to a community that knows the value of peace.”

  Vring remained silent and looked at the stars.

  “I’m surprised you’re not helping care for the newborns. The last hatching set some kind of record didn’t it?”

  “I’m actually using you as an excuse to escape.” Scotty looked at Vring. “I told Bleath that you wanted me to take you Torg hunting in the morning. That’s the only excuse that would allow me to escape.”

  Scotty laughed, “Is it that bad?”

  “Think about what thirty thousand newborns sound like. Add that to the forty five thousand youngsters less than three cycles old; I think my ears are still dead and will never hear properly again. Even a Torg could charge me and I wouldn’t hear it. Thank the Air God for all the food your archers provided or we would be in huge trouble feeding them.”

  Scott smiled, “I would have never thought any of you would complain about newborns.”

  “Easy for you to say; you don’t have to feed or hear them.”

  Scotty chuckled again and said, “Well, we’ll go up in the morning and make sure some of your community see us.”

  “I appreciate that more than you know. By the way, where’s Jingo?”

  “Jesa is close to delivering their first child and he’s staying close.”

  There was silence for several minutes and Vring asked, “Have you not found a mate?”

  Scotty sighed deeply, “No. There are quite a few of our young women that have made their interest known but none of them touch my heart.”

  There were several more minutes of silence and Scotty said, “None of them come close to what my mother was. I guess I still miss her too much.”

  “I’ve seen Jesa’s memories of the day she died. She was a remarkable Human. She died trying to save several that had fallen.”

  There was another long silence, then Vring said something that brought Scotty up off his back. “At least she didn’t suffer like those poor slaves north of our lands.”

  “What slaves, Vring?”

  “Oh, don’t worry about them; they aren’t members of your community. The big Yellow Skins use them to work their farms.”

  “Vring what are you talking about?! What do you mean, suffering?”

  Vring looked at Scotty and said, “I thought you only protected those in your two communities. Those slaves are captured species being forced to farm for the Yellow Creatures. They have been captive since shortly after the original destruction.”

  Scotty jumped up and said, “We do not tolerate slavery of any kind. You mean there are many being held as slaves?”

  Vring tilted his head and said, “They were the last time one of our warriors flew over their lands.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “Three cycles ago, just before you came to save our eggs, we sent warriors out looking for safe nesting grounds. We have seen them occasionally over the centuries.”

  “Vring, I want you to take me there.”

  “No way!”

  “Why not?”

  “Those yellow creatures have a weapon which uses a bright beam that kills Torg from great distances. It is called a blaster, according to your memories. I will not take you into that deadly land.”

  “If you won’t take me, I will start walking there in the morning. I will not sit idly by when there are people being held in slavery.”

  Vring saw Scotty was serious. “White Hair, they will see you just like the Torg that have learned to sprint into the forest when one of you goes flying with us. I can hide with my color shifting, but they will see you.” Vring paused and said, “Besides, I must have my father’s permission to leave our lands.”

  Scotty stood up and started up the hill. “Hey, where are you going?”

  “I told you I would walk if you won’t take me.”

  “You’re serious; aren’t you?”

  “Yes I am, Vring. Slavery was never tolerated by the Holy Realm, and we live by the Realm’s principles.”

  “Well, wait just a minute. Slow down. I’ll go home and request that I take you to see the northern slaves. If I’m turned down, Zreeg will come take you. It would take you almost a cycle to walk the distance and you don’t know where you’re going. They’ve been there over a thousand cycles; waiting a few more days won’t make a difference. That will give you time to prepare for the trip.”

  Scotty stared at Vring and said, “Ok, I’ll wait three days. If you don’t come back I’ll start hiking north.”

  “Why does this bother you so much?”

  “Slavery robs a being of everything; their self-worth, their happiness, their dreams, and their love. No one should endure that kind of suffering.”

  “Is it your responsibility to free every slave on the planet?”

  “It is the duty of all of us to free those that are slaves. That includes your species, too.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the Torg had enslaved your people; your species were made a food source for them and you faced extinction at their jaws. How was life living under the Torg, Vring?”

  Vring was silent and finally took a huge breath, “Every day was spent in constant sorrow anticipating the coming slaughter of our hatchlings. Many had chosen just to attack a large Torg herd to end their pain and suffering. Most of those were the mothers that had lost their eggs too many times.”

  “Do you think those slaves feel any different, with no hope of freedom?”

  ““Drab you, Scotty. Now I’m feeling anger at those slave masters.” Vring paused and said, “Even if I’m told not to go. I give you my oath I will take you anyway.”

  “How long will it take us to go there?”

  “Three days of hard flying.”

  “Then ask Zreeg to go with us to carry enough food for you to make the round trip.”

  “I’m sure I’ll find food on the way. If nothing else, the Torg reproduce at an extraordinary rate. Are you going alone?”

  Scotty lowered his head, “I made an oath to Jingo to tell him any time I was planning to leave the community. He takes that promise to my mother very seriously. However, he’s expecting his first child and he might stay.”

  “Would you?”

  “Wow; that’s a hard question! I honestly don’t know what I’d do.”

  “Could you wait until the child is born?”

  Scotty took a huge breath and blew it out, “I probably won’t have a choice. If he chooses to go, I just couldn’t force him to leave Jesa to have their child alone.” Scotty pondered the dilemma and said, “I don’t want you to go and collect all you need to make the journey and then have you wait here. Jesa is due in two days and the Cainth are just like your species; their births are within hours of the scheduled time.”

  Vring said, “Let’s do this. Give him some time with his newborn and we’ll leave seven days from now. Is that a plan you can accept?”

  Scotty looked up at the stars and, after a seeing a shooting star flash across the sky, he said, “Yes.”

  Vring walked down the hill and spread his wings, “I will see you in seven rotations, White Hair. Make sure you have enough provisions.”

  “I will, Vring. Thank you.”

  The huge Zord lifted and flew north.

  Scotty watched him go and shook his head, “Boy, they grow fast. He’s larger than Zreeg.”

  Vring arrived midmorning after a leisurely flight back, and he could hear the latest hatching of newborns long before he arr
ived. “Now, where’s Bleath?” He circled over the forest and didn’t see him in any of the clearings. He flapped his wings six times, caught a rising thermal, and rose to more than fifteen hundred feet. He looked out over the huge wastelands and didn’t see him there, either. That left one place. He turned and flapped toward the three peaks. “There he is.”

  Bleath was on White Hair Mountain supervising the food transfer to the newborns. Vring screamed and Bleath looked up and motioned him down. He landed and Bleath said, “It’s about time you came back. You can help carry the food down to the newborns.”

  Vring walked closer and Bleath said in a serious voice, “What’s wrong?”

  Vring shared his thoughts of what White Hair was going to do.

  Vring could see Bleath’s fear. “We can’t risk letting him go there.”

  Vring knew Bleath’s love for the two-legs and was amazed at the depth of his feelings for the small being of another species. He understood it because every Zord knew White Hair was a gift from the Air God. “Father, you saw his thoughts. Do you think we can prevent him?”

  Bleath thought a moment and said, “No. He will do exactly what he said and walk there if we don’t assist him.”

  “I’m worried that he will be seen on my back. We have to fly over open land and even the Torg run before we can get close with a rider.”

  Bleath thought and lowered his head. Vring waited and wondered what his father was contemplating. His thoughts were deep in his consciousness and Vring couldn’t hear them. Finally, Bleath raised his head and said, “Announce a council of all Zord tomorrow night.”

  Vring was worried. His father had not even forbid him to go. He knew that as the chosen successor to Bleath, he would never be allowed to deliberately place himself in danger. He was going anyway and he was sure Bleath saw that in his thoughts. Vring sighed and remembered being restrained from warning the two-legs about the Zord’s planned attack three cycles earlier. If they planned to restrain him again, they would have to catch him first. He smiled at that thought. I’m not so small anymore and I’m the best flyer in the flock. Vring thought about it and suddenly realized that no warrior would step forward to restrain him from protecting White Hair. They knew the blood debt Vring owed to Scotty and would never consider stopping him from paying it. Then he knew why Bleath did not forbid him to go. Vring knew if he didn’t go, Bleath would take his place. Vring shook his head and wondered about the adoration the Zord had for his friend. What is bothering his father so much to call a council? He’d find out tomorrow.

  Thousands of Zord were gathered on the high slope of White Hair Mountain in the clearing just below the snow line. The families were gathered together in groups with the family elder in front. Bleath looked at the thousands of three year olds attending their first council and again, remembered the Day of the Torg, when the two-leg archers freed them from the vicious beasts. The three year olds outnumbered the adults. He saw their awe at the gathering and smiled at their good behavior. The community was talking among themselves wondering what had happened to cause Bleath to call a council and some were worried. Finally, Bleath raised his wings and the huge gathering grew silent.

  “I am going to share a conversation my son had with White Hair.” Bleath replayed what Vring had shared with him, and Bleath saw immediate fear from the older warriors.

  One of the older Elders said, “We cannot allow him to go. He must be prevented from going into that dangerous place.”

  Bleath looked out at the community and said, “Do you not think his community said the same thing to him when he chose to come defend our newborns?” Bleath waited, then said, “No, they did not. They knew his quest that night was worthy and true to their beliefs. Do you think they could have stopped him from doing what he knew was right? Even if they had tried, he would have come anyway and the great Four Arm would have followed him. He is from the Air God and he will do its work. We will demonstrate a lack of thankfulness if we try to prevent him from his new quest.” Bleath paused and silence dominated. “He is also right about the nature of this quest. He freed us from our oppressors. Think back to how our lives were filled with sorrow and pain until he came. Those oppressed slaves are also feeling sorrow and pain. We cannot turn our backs on those that need freedom.”

  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.”