Orange Sky, page 6
part #1 of Manasty Series
We continued to walk, Zirc’s hand firmly on my arm.
Okay, a thought just occurred to me. Maybe there were no females, and the male species could carry a child? I’d been kidnapped by aliens, landed on this planet, and met aliens who had stripes on their bodies. Crazy thoughts for sure but who knows? I couldn’t possibly get Zirc pregnant with all the sex we’d been doing lately, right?
I sighed. Finally, we stopped in front of a huge house. We took many streets, and it must have been uphill because I felt short of breath. Zirc had stopped every now and then but he hadn’t looked at me. He just kept looking ahead.
Zirc tied the reins of our horse to a pole next to three other horses of similar size.
Zirc took my arm again and we entered the house. It was made of wood, but clearly, the inside was different. Way different from what I saw or glimpsed of other houses on our way here. The house was situated at the end of the road. It faces the road and is almost on top of the town.
Maybe we were meeting the Mayor or something?
I saw people with papers and some with books walking about from room to room, but when they saw Zirc, they all stopped and followed him with his eyes. But the big guy is made of sterner stuff, so he just walked onward to the center of the house, dragging me along. At least only one or two people took notice of me.
Then we reached the landing of a grand staircase made of stone! White and marble-like. This must be a rich man’s house. There were paintings, tapestries, and animal hides—maybe?—but they were colorful with red, orange, and lots of blue.
I heard before I saw a man running toward us from farther inside the house. He had a very fanciful, multi-layered robe made of all hues of blue. Like all the stripes I’d seen today.
I looked at Zirc. He didn’t look alarmed so this guy must not be an enemy.
“Zirc, Zirc!” the man called.
The big guy released a long sigh. Hmm, this should be interesting.
He was almost as big as Zirc. Though he looked older because he had more lines on his face, he also looked more handsome than Zirc. In my humble opinion.
“Where is my son?” he asked.
“He’s not with me,” Zirc replied in his monotone voice.
The man sighed long and loud. “I figured as much. It’s been three months, twelve days, 4 hours, and 7 minutes since I last saw my son!”
“I thought you would count it by the second.”
Huh, who knew Zirc had a sense of humor?
The man bellowed with laughter. I heard someone coming down the stairs. His steps sounded like thunder in the silent house. It was bustling before, but now I noticed that people stopped and waited as if for news about this man’s son.
“Here he comes now,” the man said with dry humor.
The new man who appeared is more massive than anyone I’ve seen so far. He looked almost the same age as the other man. Maybe the equivalent of 60 human years. But I bet they aged differently here. Plus, they had lighter, almost grayish hair.
“AXAD?” he bellowed.
Geez, he was loud.
Zirc moved in front of me, blocking my view of the other man. Maybe this guy is more volatile than the other. And if I warranted a guess, a relative of the son they were looking for?
“Pipe down, Runax,” the man said and stood in front of Zirc. I could still see the other guy because I moved slightly to the left. Okay, yeah, he looked volatile. His veins were standing out.
“Don’t block me, Nokin. If only you had listened to me, our son would not be out in the wilderness scavenging!”
He almost spit out the last word as if it were an abomination.
Their son?
Hmm, maybe my theory of males bearing sons was valid.
“You have lost your faith in your son, Runax. Your old age is catching up to you. If you knew your son well enough, you would know he would never scavenge for food! He is more sophisticated than that.”
“No, you spoiled him too much and put this notion in his head that he can only find his mate if he travels with these nomads.”
“Zirc is not a nomad. He is a respectful son of the Silver Tribe—”
“A tribe he long ago abandoned because of his pride!”
Zirc’s back stiffened at that.
“Enough Runax!” Nokin shouted with a sharp edge, and the other man stopped arguing, but the faint blue lines in his head were turning reddish. “Clearly, you did not take enough of your medication to be hospitable to our guests.”
Zirc chose that moment to face me and drag me away from the two arguing men. He looked composed.
“Let’s go to the parlor for now, Brin,” he led me to another room that a much younger man opened. He has cute blue stripes that swirled, unlike many with long stripes.
“Sit.” He led me to a leather armchair. It looked like a parlor you might see in the 18th century. Books were piled up high on bookshelves. There were many sitting areas, but most noticeable was the pile of pillows near the tall windows that overlooked the town and, beyond that, the plains. It looked more inviting than this very comfortable armchair. It was the closest I’d been to comfortable since I was back on Earth. The realization was enough to make me tear up, but I held it back.
“It will take some time for Nokin to calm down, Runax,” Zirc said, showing me his back. He was standing in front of an unlit fireplace.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Zirc remained motionless. Then he took a long breath and turned toward me.
He sat on the other leather armchair to my right.
“You are clever, Brin. And it worries me.”
“Why?” I insisted. I doubted he understood me. But I got the feeling he was trying to leave me behind. And it probably showed in my voice.
“I know you have lots of questions. Though I cannot understand you, I can read your face. You are worried. But I should be more worried. Who are you, Brin? Why are you here? You can understand me, but I cannot understand you. Are you just pretending? We have lots of enemies. History has taught us our enemies will use anything, anyone—citizens from other planets—to harm us.”
He had a glint in his eyes that I did not like. Of course, it was understandable. He didn’t know me. If the situation were reversed, I wouldn’t trust him.
I decided not to answer. I wondered how to explain to him that I wanted to go home? I looked around and saw what might be an answer from the universe.
On the wall behind him, there was a whole section of maps. But on the right side, there were planets and names that I couldn’t read. It looked like a galaxy.
I stood and went to it. Of course, Zirc went with me.
We both stood looking at the map. On the left was what might be their planet. They were all color-coded. Areas were colored in blue, silver, black, red, orange, purple, silver, brown, green, and all other shades. But what was most dominant was the color blue. They called Zirc the son of the Silver Tribe. So maybe we were in the Blue Tribe.
But I was more interested in the map on the right. There are so many galaxies and stars. It stretched from the floor to the ceiling. It must have been fourteen feet high. Their planet, of course, was at the center of the map. It was large and orange, almost like a sun. Their suns though, were fiery red and they had two in their galaxy.
I tried to check other star systems with one sun. I found several, but none of them had a blue planet. Maybe they hadn’t discovered it?
“You are trying to find your way home?”
I nodded. I saw a sliding ladder and climbed it. I waited for Zirc to stop me but he didn’t. He’s probably curious about what I would do.
Heart thundering, I tried to find my planet. My solar system. Zirc helped me move the ladder. I couldn’t find my home.
A big circle was drawn in the upper left quadrant. Curious, I tried to see it. The circle looked hand-drawn. But the lines were faded with age. The third planet orbiting the sun was blue. I adjusted my viewing angle to see if this could be Earth? It looked so blue. Like there was no land mass.
Still, I got excited when I saw rings on the sixth planet, rings. It has rings!
“Zirc!” I called him excitedly. “I think I found it! This is it!”
He grabbed hold of another ladder and slid to where I pointed.
His eyes widened.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded excitedly.
He narrowed his eyes as if weighing if I was telling the truth.
“This is my planet. Earth.” I pointed to the planet. “Earth.”
“This blue planet is called Earth?” he asked and placed his pointed finger on the map.
“Earth,” I repeated. “Home.”
“You want to go back to your planet?”
I nodded again. “Yes.”
He looked at my face again. Especially my eyes. I couldn’t help but tear up a little. He put his palm against my face and wiped my tears. Then he licked his thumb.
“Water,” he said. “You leak water from your eyes. Water that is like ambrosia to our people.”
“It’s salty,” I said grumpily. If only I could communicate that tears were not safe to drink.
He looked back at the map again. I realized I was so far away! Can he send me back?
I had no time to shout when he grabbed me and jumped. My feet were inches from the floor but he did not suffer any serious injury.
He placed me gingerly on the floor and quickly sent the two ladders in the opposite direction. He grabbed both my arms and put his face inches from mine.
“Never ever tell anyone that you came from the Blue Planet, do you hear me?” He pointed it out by shaking me. “Do you understand?”
“Okay,” I nodded.
“You must not tell anyone if you want to live,” he said with a harsh look.
I just nodded. I probably looked a little pale because he hugged me.
Just then, the door opened. I pushed away from Zirc and saw the two men from earlier. I tried to calm my beating heart. What is it about my planet that Zirc is afraid of? I felt that he wanted me to stay here. Maybe he’d changed his mind when he realized where I’d come from.
Zirc put himself in front of me again. But not fully blocking me, so I saw Nokin was in front of Runax. Runax seemed calmer now.
“Forgive our manners, Zirc of the Silver Tribe,” Nokin said. “Please, let’s sit down.” He pointed to the leather armchairs.
Zirc pointed me to a three-seater sofa set while the two took the arm chairs Zirc and I had sat on earlier. He grabbed hold of my waist and made sure that no gap was between us.
This is strange behavior even for him; my survival instincts are on high alert.
“Are you not going to introduce me to your companion, Zirc? Is this Coone?” Nokin asked.
“No. And he doesn’t speak at all.”
I straightened at that.
“A pity. Axad talks about Coone a lot. How he pesters him with all sorts of stories. Though he said it irritably, I knew he was fond of this Coone. He said he looked strange, like this boy with you.” Nokin shrugged. “So tell us, Zirc. Why are you here?”
Yes, my question exactly.
“I found the relic.”
The place became silent as a tomb.
10
ZIRC
Both of Axad's parents straighten from their seats. Ah, they know. Of course, as tribal leaders, they had access to such information.
“Where?” Runax asked. He was eager to know where and not what kind of relic it was. Most relics left a magical residue over time that could be harnessed. Runax was fully capable of harnessing the relic’s residue.
“In the outermost region of Crane.”
“You went to the Crane?”
“How can you stand the stench of that wasteland?”
Both leaders grumbled, knowing how they liked everything clean. They would not dare go to the Crane. This is why they thought Axad was a disappointment. He didn’t mind getting dirty every now and then. If these two had any idea what Axad was eating, they would drag him back home by fangs and tail.
“What kind of relic is it?” Nokin harrumphed. From his tone, he didn’t even want to see it because it had come from the Crane.
I drew the crystal from inside my vest. I unwrapped the black covering and wasn’t surprised when they gasped.
I was amazed by the glowing crystal. It beat regularly like our heart.
“By the ancestors,” Runax breathed and stood. Nokin was stupefied.
Of all the colors the relic could be, it was blue. The color of their tribe.
Runax came forward and knelt before the crystal in my hand. He reached for it with one hand but stopped. And looked at me for permission. I nodded. Strange since he was a tribal leader and I was not.
He carefully took the glowing crystal, and its warmth left my hand. Runax held it with both hands and slowly stood. He looked years younger as he surveyed it with wonder. As far as we know, it was the only known glowing crystal ever recorded.
“Have you used it yet?” Nokin was now approaching Runax who stood and took it to him.
“I dared not,” I answered. I was tempted to do so.
Runax narrowed his eyes at me. “I see why Axad admires you as well. And follows you,” he grumbled.
I hid a smirk. Axad was a precious member of my small team. I led them, but they all knew they were free to leave whenever they wanted. We banded together because circumstances led us to one another.
“The High Council forbade me to use it. No one knew how to use it and we needed a laboratory to test it. And I believe them.”
“Why do you think so? Oh, careful now, Runax,” Nokin said as Runax carefully transferred the crystal to him. “We don’t know if this is stable enough.”
Runax straightened, his shoulders touching Nokin effortlessly, making a connection. The two reminded him painfully of how close his parents were Before It Happened.
“It fell from the sky.”
Nokin's hands trembled but Runax’s hands supported the crystal. “W-What did you say?” Nokin's aqua-blue eyes are like Axad's, though his build and coloring were like Runax's.
“It fell from the sky,” I repeated. I felt Brin stiffen beside me. “The High Council said to head northwest. They said I will know when I see it. When it falls from the sky.”
Runax snorted. “Those old farts! I can just imagine them summoning you, all pompous and royalty-like but delivering a vague message.”
Nokin smiled while rubbing the crystal. It resonated with them. I could feel the echoes. How intriguing.
“I remember Runax when we were summoned each time by the High Council. I think that is where you developed your high blood pressure.”
Runax grumbled. And he looked at me as if to say continue with my story.
“Yes, they were vague. However, a fortnight after entering the Crane, I saw a light from the sky. I knew it was a spaceship. We have many spaceships, even small vessels, entering our atmosphere. But this one was in distress, so I went to investigate. I saw the glowing crystal a few meters away from the crash site.” And that is it. I do not want to share the story of Brin yet. How I found her at the crash site. The High Council had said I would find what I was looking for. They believed the relic was a crystal of some sort. And though the crystal looked blue and squarish, it glowed as if it had a heart of its own.
“Where was Axad in all this episode?” Runax inquired mildly, though I know both are dying to hear the story of their one and only son. They wanted other sons because Axad was different, yet they adored him to death. Unfortunately, for a Manasty, even having one child is a gift from the heavens. Many die without having a child to call their own.
“He has another mission but we will rendezvous soon.”
“Probably with that Coone,” Runax complained again.
I made a note to not let Coone near the Blue Tribe. Axad was busy guarding the heir to the Purple throne. We were on that mission when the High Council called and sent me on this solo mission.
Now, I was conflicted. Could the female and the crystal be related? But Brin had many chances to inquire about the crystal if it was hers. Yet, she didn’t. So they are not related. However, she pointed out that she came from a blue planet. Our planet used to be blue as well. The Blue Tribe ruled it. But when it was mostly destroyed by too much industrialization, the High Council was formed from each tribe, and soon, the powers of the Blue Tribe were lost. And the Purple Tribe had thrived so well that half of the High Council came from the Purple Tribe.
Axad’s parents would disown him if they knew his mission was to guard the Purple Tribe heir. His parents were hoping Axad would bring back the glory to their tribe. One of their ancestors once foretold that the Blue Tribe would bring glory to the Manasties. And bringing glory, even through death, is as precious and coveted as having a child.
“Tell him he needs to come home for the Hunting Season,” Nokin said. He sat on the other two-seater sofa, Runax’s right side touching his left side from shoulder to thigh, down to their bent legs.
It irritated me that I took note of this. Whenever I saw them, I saw my parents and I craved the same. To find my mate and soon.
“I will tell him but there’s no guarantee.”
“He already missed the Feasting!” Runax exploded.
Ah, the feasting. Axad was sad that he missed it three months ago but we were in enemy territory. We couldn’t afford to go back to his tribe. Feasting and hunting seasons were when a member of the Blue Tribe would travel great distances to go back. It is this tradition that makes the tribe stronger.
“I will tell him.” I cannot guarantee what the future holds for us. Now that we have found this crystal. “And I need you to build me a container for this special crystal.”
Runax winced while Nokin looked seriously affronted.
“You want us to box this—this blue crystal from our ancestors?” Now, it was Nokin who was shouting.
Runax sighed. “I was afraid you were going to ask that.”
Nokin looked at Runax. “You knew?”
“I had a feeling. Nokin, you must realize that though it looked like one of the long-lost relics from our tribe, the High Council will use it for the betterment of our planet.”
