Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream Read online

  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?”

&nb
sp; “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.

  Scotty and Jingo were asked to come to Jing’s home. As they approached his house they saw all of the surviving archers sitting outside waiting. “What’s going on, Jingo?”

  “I don’t know.”

  As they walked up to the doorway Michael Blake stood and opened the door for them and lowered his head. Scotty and Jingo went in and found Jing with two seamstresses. Jing said, “Gres and Kess have something for you.” Jing then stepped outside and left them with the two Cainth females. “Take off your clothes.”

  Jingo immediately started stripping, but Scotty was shy. “What’s wrong?”

  Scotty looked at a naked Jingo, sighed, and took off his clothes.

  Gres gave Jingo a light green-colored shirt and he put it on. Scotty was also given a shirt; he took it and pulled it over his head. It was incredibly light and the material was soft on his skin. It felt wonderful. He put on the pants, then took the socks and boots. The boot’s sole was thick but made from the same material as the shirt and pants. Then Kess looked Scotty over and pulled and tugged on a sleeve. “Try to fire a bowgun.”

  Scotty put an imaginary bowgun in his left hand and lifted it to his cheek. He felt no resistance. He noticed Jingo going through several gyrations shooting from different positions so he did the same. “Well?”

  “This is amazing. It feels like a second skin.”

  “We are also amazed at the material. We had to remove two inches of thickness from it to get to the soft material, but it is extremely flexible. Put the gloves on.”

  Scotty took the gloves and slipped them on. They fit perfectly and seemed to mold to his joints. “These are remarkable.”

  “Now pull the hood up.”

  Scotty reached over his shoulder and pulled the hood up over his head. It covered every inch, and fit tightly to his skull.

  Kess nodded in satisfaction, then said, “Now, take it off, pull the lining out, and put it back on.”

  Scotty furrowed his brow and pulled the hood off. He felt inside it and found a lightweight piece of material. He pulled it out and put the hood back on. The material fell over his face but he found he could see through it. There were hundreds of small holes that allowed him to see clearly.

  “Are you able to see all right?”

  “Yes, how did you do this?”

  “This is magical stuff, Scotty. The color blending will cover the holes.”

  “Why did you make a cape?”

  “Why, to cover your quiver. We refuse to cover arrows with it, so we had to find a way to hide them. The oversized quiver is made into the cape, and only the end of the shafts will be at the edge. Shrug your left shoulder and the arrows can be reached.”

  Scotty looked over at Jingo and saw him reaching over both shoulders. He tried it and found that she was exactly right. The quiver in the cape was positioned perfectly. Kess then handed him his bowgun, which was covered in the green material. Even the soft stock cover was made from the Zecka. He pulled it to test the weight and was shocked to find it was actually no heavier than it was before the addition of the Zecka covering.

  Kess said, “Want to see something we discovered by accident?”

  Jingo looked up and Scotty said, “Sure.”

  Kess touched the material and it started shifting color.

  “What the..?”

  “This material will shift color when the one touching it thinks about shifting color. Try it.”

  Scotty saw the colors stop shifting when Kess removed her hand. He thought, “Change color.” And the colors began shifting on his new clothing.

  Kess said, ‘It appears the Zord were right and wrong. This material will shift color if anyone alive touches it.”

  “How do I get it to stop?”

  “Just tell it to stop.”

  Scotty thought, “Stop shifting,” and it did.

  Jingo said, “I’m going to miss my swords.”

  Gres said, “Not so fast.” She turned around and handed him a belt with the four short swords. The handles and the scabbards were covered in the green material. Kess handed Scotty his belt. He put it on and it was a perfect fit.

  Scotty said, “You have done a remarkable thing here. Thank you.”

  The two came up and hugged both of them. Kess said, “Just honor them as much as we did making them.”

  Scotty knelt and said, “You know we will.”

  Gres said, “Your brothers are waiting outside to see you.”

  Scotty nodded at Jingo and they opened the door and stepped outside.

  The Riders stood, then knelt in front of them. Michael Blake said, “We give honor and respect to the first Zeckas of our brothers. May they bring honor to you through great deeds.”

  Scotty said, “Please rise, my brothers, and enter to begin the making of your Zeckas.”

  Michael Blake was the first to enter to be measured for his Zecka.

  Jing came forward and hugged Jingo, “You have always made me proud to be your father.”

  Jingo hugged him and lowered his head. Jing then hugged Scotty, “And you are also my son. We are all proud of the great young man you have become. Please come with me.”

  They followed him to the clearing and found the entire community waiting with blossoms from the giant trees. As they entered the clearing, the assembly threw flowers along their path. When they reached the center, Samuel raised his hands and everyone bowed to them.

  “Great creator, we give honor to the Zeckas that adorn our sons. We vow to give honor and only perform honorable actions while you are with us. Thank you for your gift of protection.”

  The community all rose and rushed forward to congratulate the two archers. Scotty and Jingo were both humbled and happy. The celebration lasted well into the evening. The Zord flying high overhead left to inform the community of what he had seen, and to tell the two flyers their riders were ready.

  Chapter Seven

  The two Zord flew effortlessly towards the north. They glided most of the time, letting hot thermal columns of air lift them high, then soared forward. Scotty sat on Vring’s back, staring at the ground far below. Most of the land had been reclaimed by the forest, but there were vast wastelands to the west. “Hey,Vring! Do I see plant life out in the wastelands?”

  “Yes, you do. It appears the death breath has diminished greatly and is now low enough for plants and animals to return. Torg live on it now, unaffected.”

  “The planet is healing itself.”

  “That’s the way it seems.” The two flew in silence, then Vring said, “You know I had many opportunities to kill you before you fixed my wing.”

  Scotty sat up straight, “What? When?”

  “You have always gone to the hill to stare at stars. I remember seeing you there ten of your years ago.”

  “I always had my bowgun handy.”

  “You weren’t always as good as you are now. I would watch you practice occasionally.”

  “Why didn’t you take me?”

  “I heard your thoughts. I list
ened to your dreams and felt the sorrow of your mother’s loss. I guess I felt you had been given bad luck and you didn’t deserve it. I enjoyed your feelings when you looked up at the sky.”

  “Your father would have thought you weak for your actions.”

  “He actually did just that. He sent me to take you specifically when you came and saved my life. I was injured getting ready to kill you that night.”

  Scotty didn’t say anything. “I guess what the greatest Queen of the Holy Realm said was right.”