Mulu Amin sat at his desk in his private chamber brooding and stared into the crystal mound on the table at his side. He watched as King Yonas Kinya gathered his troops and got ready to march. Regent G'ania Gazini had already prepared Atrua, the Pantheran capital for the Hyenan invasion, and Ayad Naadu of Rhinon was already on his way to join the Felines with his warriors. It seems all of Aspana had finally decided to organize against him.
"Let them come." He said with a smile. "My Canin's are not done yet and neither am I! Aspana will rue the day it denied me what should be mine!"
He got up from his desk and walked from his study and out of his house to a hut he had built for his conjurations. There, he had fashioned a pentagram etched in blood on the floor. With a snap of his fingers, the torches in the hut blazed to life and the black candles at each point of the star sparked into a black flame. Mulu stepped into the center of the pentagram and sat down and crossed his legs. In front of him on the floor sat a small bowl filled with ashes and bone fragments. Mulu pulled a dagger from his belt and held it to his hand and cut a slit down the center of the palm of his hand. Blood soon pooled in the palm of his hand. He tilted it and let it pour down into the bowl. The second the blood touched the ashes, gray smoke started billowing up from the bowl to fill the air above his head. Mulu then started his summoning.
ASHES TO ASHES.
BONE TO BONE.
MUSCLES AND MAGIC.
FIRE AND STONE.
FROM SHADOW TO LIGHT.
I CALL YOU HERE.
BOUND AND ALONE.
YOU WILL APPEAR.
DRAIDOR MORAM.
COME AND FACE ME!!
"AYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!" Draidor screamed as he appeared in the air over Mulu's head. "IT BURNS, MAKE IT STOP, MAKE IT STOP. THE SUN BURNS ME!!"
"Calm yourself Demon!" Mulu shouted. "There is no sun here, only nice cool darkness and shadow."
"He hurt me!" Draidor materialized a huge fist and pounded the ground in a rage. "That cursed bastard of a feline hurt me!!"
"Did you kill him?" Mulu asked calmly.
"I had him and his Jackal cornered and he called the sun on me!!"
"IS HE DEAD OR NOT!!" Mulu yelled.
"No, he still lives." Draidor said as he refocused his energy and shrank down to face Mulu. "He lives, but he is hurt very badly. His lackey took him away somewhere to die."
"Where?"
"I don't know." The Demon said. "But I can find him."
"Don't bother." Mule reached into the bag at his side and pulled out a small brown piece of bone. He held it up so Draidor could see it. "Do you know what this is?"
Draidor looked at Mulu with red burning eyes. He looked down at his hand and scoffed at the strange thing the mortal held.
"What do I care about you mortals."
"You should care." Mulu smiled. "You should care very much. I will show you why."
Mulu picked up the dagger off the floor and put it to the bone and dug a deep scratch into it.
Draidor screamed a blood curdling scream and clutched his chest and fell rolling on the ground. Mulu walked around him holding the dagger to the bone.
"This is a bone from what was once your body. With this, I can do things to you, you could not imagine. I can cause you pain or even take your Demon body as my own."
"No!!" Draidor screamed. "This is not possible! Yros would not allow this to happen!"
"I do not answer to any gods on Fortis, the Underworld or any dark dimension." Mulu grabbed the long braid of hair from the top of Draidor's head. "I told you not to fail me. I warned you that the consequences of failure would be dire. Now, I will take your body and your powers and I will find Msia and kill him myself!!"
Nooooooo!!!!!" Draidor screamed as he struggled against the spell Mulu had cast on him. "This can not be!!!"
"It can." Mulu laughed. "And it will! Enjoy your time in the Abyss!"
As Draidor screamed, Mulu cast his spell and pushed Draidor out of his body. With his soul banished Mulu stepped in and took control. Bolts of black lightning shot out from his body and rained down all over the hut tearing it to pieces. Mulu's laughter echoed all through Mancoro scaring the Hyenans down to their knees. Wrapped in gray smoke, Mulu walked out of the smoke to stand at the edge of the pit laughing. Where once he was a thin Hyenan of about 5' 7" with brown fur streaked with black stripes. Now he was 6' 7" and all black with red eyes sharp teeth with a split demon tongue that hung from his mouth.
Laughing, Mulu walked though Mancoro back to his house and called out to the Hyenan's he had on guard around the house.
"I want every Hyenan in Aspana here at this house to receive my blessing. Leave no one out. I want the young and the old here in front of me in 24 hours."
"Yes master!" The guards ran to send out his call.
"They think they can come and attack me. I will have something special ready just for them. Now Aspana and all of Keanna will bow to my call and be mine!!"
With a deep row of laughter, Mulu disappeared in a flash of darkness.
It was dark when Astan opened his eyes. He had seen many things in his meditation. He watched scared as Yas led Sakura and Sky down to the caves to face the Bear creatures. They battled fiercely sending Sky's ice and Sakura's sword blast at their enemies as they attacked. Yas Twospears found himself trapped in the caves with the hungry Bears. They heard his screams as he was ripped apart and eaten alive. Once out of the cave, Sakura and Sky faced the Twospear tribe and gave them the chance to either fight him, or join them in the battle for Aspana. The Chimp's agreed accepting Sakura's offer and apologizing for the deception their king had played on them. They promised they would be there when Sakura called for them day or night to fight at his side for him and Aspana.
As the vision faded, Astan's consciousness moved on to Atrua where he watched as Regent G'ania Gazini met and greeted Ayad Naadu as he entered the city gates. Traveling in three rows behind the Rhinon king were his armored warriors all ready for war with their catapults and siege hammers. The Rhinon were a gentle people made up of artists, builders and statesmen. But when threatened with war and aggression, they were one of the Pantherans most fierce allies. Regent Gazini would always be proud to have them at his side.
Astan listened carefully as Regent Gazini greeted his old friend and explained why they were on the march. He heard his and his fathers name mentioned. Gazini told him how the two princes were missing and about Mulu's attack on Tinpa and the other cities. He told him of Mulu's attempt to make himself the king of Aspana and his attacks on the Canin tribes all through middle Aspana.
"There is one more thing." Regent Gazini said. "Though I can not prove it, I know Mulu is behind King Msia's disappearance. It was one of our people that led us out that night. But I have no doubt that Mulu was behind it."
"That treacherous dog!" Ayad slammed his fist down on the table. "I have had my problems with him too. Two Rhinon tribes have fallen to his Canin warriors. They lured the adult warriors away, then went in and killed all the females and children. When the warriors returned, he was waiting there for them. Him and his damned dark magic. By the time that I could arrive with my troops, there was nothing left to do but bury the dead. One hundred and thirty Rhinon dead. All for his damned ambition. I will march with G'ania. I will help you put down the Hyenan no matter what it takes."
As they shook hands, Astan pulled his probe back. He had someone else he thought he should check on. His father. He wanted to know what had happened in Tinpa. How had his people been after the Hyenan attack. Astan had warned Sakura that Kinya would need help with the Hyenans. Here was his chance to see how the city fared.
From Panthera, Astan sent his consciousness out to find his home. He soared out over the savanna and through the jungle. He passed the Chimps tree city and a few Lycaon villages. All the people he passed seemed agitated. Even from high above he could feel their fear and concern at all the strange things happening in Aspana. He saw Elephant tribes that once roamed through out the land alone now all band together for protection. Elk, antelope, eland, water buffalo and even the great Hippons were on the run to find somewhere safe to wait out the conflict they all felt coming. They all knew there was a battle coming and their way was to hide until it was all over. But Astan knew the Tigarens and the Pantheran would not hide. They would fight to keep Aspana free no matter what it took.
Soon, Astan found himself flying out of the jungle and right to Tinpa. The land around the city looked as if a great war had been fought. There were huge pits blasted out of the ground and all the land looked scorched. The city walls had strange blast marks and there were piles of burning bodies set out towards the eastern end. But from what Astan could see, there were no holes in the walls. The Hyenans had failed to enter the city. Astan smiled. That meant the people were safe for now. But what about Father? Had he survived the battle? Astan just had to know. He zoomed in heading for the city wall and suddenly ran into a great barrier. There was something there preventing him from getting any closer. He tried several other places, but it was no use. Tinpa had some kind of magical barrier set up around it. It had to be the doings of Zakia Manzi trying to keep Mulu away from the city.
Feeling sad, Astan backed away from the city. He had to trust that Sakura had done what he promised and saved his father. Now it was time for him to find some way of getting himself free from his prison cell before Igoro could turn him over to Mulu. Pulling himself back to his cell, he stood up and walked up the the cell door. He listened carefully. He knew he wasn't the only prisoner in the dungeon. He had heard cry's and the sound of others moving around in the cells beyond his. At the door, he looked out and down the long dimly lit corridor then across into the cell opposite his. As he gazed into the cell, he saw something move. There was someone in there lying on the cot. Astan wondered who it could be. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers causing a small flickering light to appear. With a wave of his hand he sent it on across and into he the cell. In the cell laying on the cot was a tall thin man dressed in a feathered row of black gray and white.
"Myumbo." Astan called. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you."
"Good. I am Astan Kinyo of Tigaress. Who are you?"
"I am no one anymore." Came the answer. "Just another prisoner waiting in the dark to die."
"Yes." Astan said. "You may die here, but you are not dead yet. Only your body is a prisoner. Igoro Baba my have trapped you, but he does not have your soul. Don't give in to him. There is a way out."
"I have been here without light for a long time." The voice said. "Trapped in the darkness. I see no way out."
"If it is light that you want, then that is what you will have."
Astan whispered something the other couldn't hear and suddenly the spark of light grew to a globe that illuminated the whole cell. The feathered man squawked then stood up as the light filled the room and sent energy surging through his body.
"Praise Alee the light feels good!!"
He lifted his arms, which turned out to be wings and let the light revitalize his muscles and clear out some of the depression in his mind. As the globe illuminated the cell, Astan got a better look the rooms occupant. He was tall and thin and covered from his head down his back with blue, gray and white spotted feathers. He had bright intelligent eyes and an almost beak like nose. Astan guessed he had to be from one of Aspana's many avian tribes. Most likely a predator from deep in the jungle. The light burned for about three minutes, then went out.
"Asante rafiki mgeni." He said. "My name is Palas Astraeus. I am from a place called Starspeak. It is in the high mountains of Ayss in the south."
"Myumbo Palas Astraeus." Astan bowed. "I'm sorry I can't do more. Igoro's magic hinders my spells. What brings you here to Domina?"
"It is a long story." Palas said as he moved back to the cot and sat down. "A story of innocence and treachery and evil magic.."
"I think I may have heard stories like that before. Tell me, what happened."
"Very well." Palas said. "Weeks ago back in my home in the mountains of Ayss. I was a hunter and one of the elders of my aerie. We are a peaceful people. We hunt and live by the message and teachings of Tyree the god of the jungle and wildlife. We try very hard to keep away from the lower jungles. There, madness and chaos run wild through the jungles and savanna's. There are creatures there who can not be trusted. They smile and promise peace, only to steal the young away in the night."
"I assume you mean Igoro Baba and his Gorilla's?"
"Yes." Palas said. Astan could hear pain in his voice. The Gorillas must have done something really horrible to the Avians. Astan closed his eyes and listened while Palas told his story.
"The day had been long. I was out flying over the northern part of our mountains hunting goat when I heard a call echoing on the winds from home. The call was sent out from Argestes, he is the leader of my tribe. He wanted me to come home immediately. I called back to the others in my hunting group and told them where to find my day's catch and turned back towards our Aerie. When I arrived back to the Aerie, Argestes stood down at the entrance to our city with a strange looking man. He had short round ears like a human and a snout with that looked like teeth that could tear meat with with ease. He wore a strange green robe with what looked like pieces of inch sized ivory sewn in creating strange symbols. He wore gold and silver on his fingers and in his ear. I didn't like him the minute I laid eyes on him. There was something in his eyes that chilled me to the bone. As I approached, Argestes waved at me. He wanted me to land there with him and the stranger. From high over their heads, I could see a look on Argestes. It confused me the way he was looking and talking to the stranger. Argestes usually was the cautious one while I was always curious. It was usually him holding me back from putting my beak where it should not be. Folding my wings, I dropped down for a soft landing a few feet out from where they stood. As soon as I touched down, a strange smell caught my attention. It was a sickly smell, like that of death. And it was coming from the stranger. Now, I really didn't like the stranger.
"May your hunting always succeed." Argestes said with a smile. "Palas, we have a guest in our city. An important Gorilla from the lower lands. He is king in his country."
Palas stood and listen as Argestes went on about the gorilla and his accomplishments. Palas really didn't care who he was. What he wanted to know was why he was here. And why Argestes had let him in the city.
"He is here to ask for our help."
Palas looked at the Gorilla. He had a strange look on his face. Palas couldn't tell what it was. It could be fear, or genuine concern. Palas wasn't use to trying to read the faces of people from outside of their mountain city. But something in him said not to trust the Gorilla.
"What is it they want?" Palas asked.
"We, the people of Domina have been watching your mountain for a long time." Igoro explained. "We admire your city, its law and the way you conduct yourselves. We think there are many things we can learn from you in exchange for a few special lessons we can teach you."
"Like what?" Palas asked. He shook out his wings and folded his arms. "What do you think you can teach that we don't already now?"
"Magic!!" Argestes said with bright eyes. "Igoro is a master mage and he promises to teach me, I mean our people the ways of the Mystics."
Palas looked at Argestes. He knew how eager he was for any use of magic. He had for years wondered about the magical ways of the northern mages. Starspeak had been isolated from the others of Aspana, but they weren't blind. They had seen some of the magical battles of the northern mages from their mountain. The lights and flashes of power bolt as two mages faced each other in battle. They were horrible and at the same time, amazing to watch.
"Magic?" Palas said with a frown. "You opened our gates for magic? Tyree has decided that we do not need magic, that is why we do not have magic here."
"But you can." Igoro said. "It will not be easy, but I can teach you the basic theory of magic. How to cast and control spells of different degrees. I see that spark in Argestes eyes that he can use magic. I can teach him, then he can come back and teach others. Soon there will be a mystical spire in your Aerie. One strong enough to make you proud."
"And what do you get?"
"You can help my people hunt." Igoro said with a smile. "I'm sick of banana's and pineapples. You can help with that."
Palas was unconvinced, He didn't believe the gorilla. He thought there was something else he really wanted. And he didn't care about magic. As far as he was concerned, if their city never used the abomination, he would be happy. But he wasn't the only one who had to make the decision. The elder council would have to decide.
"My answer is no." Palas said. "I think our people should stay here where they belong. But I will abide by the vote of the council. Igoro Baba, we will discuss this tonight in chamber. You come back tomorrow and there will be an answer for you."
"Then good hunting my friends. "Igoro bowed. "I will be back for your answer."
With that, he spun around and disappeared in a flash of smoke. Argestes stared at the spot where he vanished from in awe.
"This is a mistake." Palas said. "That gorilla is not to be trusted. I am warning you. Do not let this happen. We have done fine for thousands of years without magic, trust Tyree. He has always cared for us. Do not go against his teachings or you will be sorry."
The arguing that night in the council chamber was intense. We argued on into the early hours of the morning. Most were intent to deny the gorilla and keep our warriors at home. But Argestes argued that magic was becoming to powerful in the outside lands. He said we needed it to defend ourselves from all the others that could soon be knocking at our door. He reminded us that there are bad men out there. Gorillas, Lions, Tigars, Rhinon or the Lycaons, He said it may not be today, but someone will come. And we won't be able to defend ourselves. Not unless we take this opportunity that the Gorilla offers and try and empower ourselves.
Now I admit he is right. Aspana is changing. We see it everyday. New things are invented, different species are found and some turn out to be aggressive, some even have magic. I believe that if we don't be careful and adapt, there is a real danger in our future. But I do not trust the Gorilla and nothing Argestes can say will change that.
For hours we argued back and forth until at last we took one final vote. Do we accept or do we refuse the offer. At eight to four the decision was made that we should accept Igoro Baba's offer. I couldn't believe what I heard when the decision was read. I looked over to Argestes. There was a huge smile on his face. He had won. He stood up and walked round the table heading for the speakers place when I called out and stopped him.
"Argestes." Palas said clearing his throat. "The council has decided and agreed to accept the help of the Gorilla. Even over my objections. What will happen next will be all your responsibility. The future of Starspeak is now in you and the gorillas hands and by Tyree's scepter, you better not fail.
From there, everything started to move fast. Igoro came back and Argestes told him the councils decision. Igoro was pleased and wanted Argestes to start sending Starspeak warriors back to Domina immediately. Argestes agreed but he said only if Igoro would accept him as the first of the Avian apprentices. With a smile the gorilla agreed and Argestes started setting up the warriors and hunters he thought could teach Domina the most. Initially, Argestes picked out five warriors and hunters, but Palas insisted that he be added to the count. He didn't trust the Gorillas and he wanted to be there just in case something went wrong.
After a day of packing and saying their good bye's, Argestes and his first group was ready to go. With a quick spell, Igoro transported all their packs and supply's out of Starspeak. Now he was ready to send the Avians on to Domina. With five hunters lined up, Igoro lifted his hands and cast his spell. In a flash of smoke and light, the hunters disappeared. All the Avian's that had gathered to watch, gasped in awe and started chatting loudly.
"Bring your warriors forward." Igoro commanded.
Palas tucked an extra dagger into his belt, then waved the gathered warriors around him. Once set in a circle with Palas in the center, Igoro spoke to them.
"You will feel a moment of disorientation when you re appear. Have no fear. There will be a few of my people there waiting to steady you. Just relax and let them guide you to a place where you can rest and reorient. Are you ready?"
"Yes." Argestes said anxiously. "I am ready to learn magic."
"Then prepare yourself." Igoro raised his glowing hands. "Domination awaits you!"
Palas watched as Igoro raised his hands and whispered something in a strange language. Then there was a loud scream in his ears and everything went black.
Slowly as the scream faded from Palas's ears, he open his eyes and looked up. The skies were different. There was no mountain here. The smells and the sound were complete different. He looked down and around to find him and his warriors were surrounded by Gorillas with spears and nets. Igoro had betrayed them. He never planned to teach them magic. This was all to make prisoners of the Avian people.
"Avians, to the skies!!
With a mighty leap, Palas launched himself into the sky. His warriors tried to follow him, but the Gorillas had nets and all his warriors were captured before they could even open their wings. Palas beat his wings taking him higher and higher over the jungle city. Leveling himself off, he looked back just as Argestes was being slammed down into the mud by five of Igoro's Gorilla guards. They held him down as Igoro came over to stand over him. He reached down and grabbed the long pinion feathers of Argestes wings and tore one out. Argestes screamed in pain.
"Palas!" The Gorilla shouted as he held the feathers up."You will land and submit to my warriors or I will rip out all his pinions one by one so he never takes flight again. Then I will move on to the next warrior. I will cripple every Avian here, then send for the next bunch and do the same."
"No Palas!" Argestes shouted. "Get away! Go tell the others. Warn them of Igoro's treachery!"
Igoro grabbed another hand full of feathers from Argestes wing, then looked up to Palas.
"You have five seconds." He said. "Land now or they will all suffer. All of your proud warriors will be crippled to never feel flight again!"
Palas circled the courtyard where they had appeared watching as his friends were chained and put into leg irons. If he attacked, Igoro would complete his threat. All ten Avians would be tortured and crippled, then he would go back to Starspeak and gather another group and bring them back and cripple them too. He had to find a way to warn the others. Only then could he give himself up to save Argestes and the others.
As he circled the courtyard, a lone gray hawk flew down out of the jungle. Palas squawked calling out to it.the hawk.
[Brother, go to Starspeak and tell them it was a trap. Do not trust the Gorillas.]
The hawk squawked back an acknowledgement then turned towards Starspeak and hurried off to deliver its message. Palas flew down to hover over Igoro, then dropped down to land. He pulled his sword and dagger and threw them at Igoro's feet.
"I am here." Palas said with distaste. "Now let them go."
Igoro stepped back away from Argestes laughing.
"The proud Palas Astraeus. You are the one Avian I thought might be able to have stopped me. But Argestes and his greed for magic, I guess was stronger than your warnings. But you were right. They should have never trusted me. Now your whole, I'm not even sure what to call it. A flock? A murder?"
"We are Avians." Palas said proudly. "We are the children of Tyree and he will provide for us even if that means revenge."
"Then he better open his eyes." Igoro said "Because in a few weeks, all your people will either be sold into slavery, or in my slave pens waiting for auction."
"You may have me now Gorilla. But by the scepter of Tyree, I will be free one day and I will have the pleasure of tearing you apart with my own talons."
"Not today you won't." Igoro laughed. "Take them to the dungeons. I know someone from Maramar that will pay me a lot of gold for you."
When Palas finished his story, he sat back then turned to Astan.
"That is how I got here." He said. "I have been here for weeks I think. It is hard to tell without the blessed sun. I miss the light of Alee on my face."
"You will feel it again my friend." Astan said. "Our day of freedom is near. I will get us out of here, that is my promise."
It was a cool night as Beno, dressed all in black slipped from house to house hiding from Domina's city guards. He had to make his way to an old boarded up bath house in the northern part of the city without being seen by anyone. He passed the palace and turned north up the lane. He stopped when he saw two guards standing beside a high torch outside of the healers building. They were talking about tomorrows auction and someone one of them planned to bid on. The thought disgusted Beno. His father had been sold into slavery for opposing Igoro two years ago. His mother cried for two weeks from remorse and stopped eating. Within a month she was dead from starvation. Beno had lost both his parents in a months time, all because of Igoro and his impossible wish to rule Aspana.
When the two guards moved on, Beno hurried on up the lane and turned east toward the bath house. The bath house was once a beautiful two story marble building with two aqueducts that run in to provide pure clean water. The pipes and channels had been spelled to provide hot water for the many deep bathing and swimming pools. There were two shower rooms, a hot pool and a private sauna made special for the king.
But all this was condemned now. The building was in sad shape and very poor condition with crumbling roofs and caved in floors. But there was one thing that very few knew about. There was a tunnel beneath the bath house that fed water to Igoro's slave pens and dungeons. Goren had found it only recently. It was his only way in and the way he planned to get Astan out of his fathers dungeon.
Once Beno reached the bath house, he moved around to the back and slipped in through the left aqueduct. Now he had to make his way under the city and into the dungeon to get to Prince Astan. With a small torch to light his way, Beno made his way through the twists and turns of the city sewer system.
Once there at the barred gate, Beno put out his torch and listened at the gate for any guards. All he heard was snoring and the cries of the tortured. With a gentle shove, he pushed the gate open and went in. As he stepped in a wave of heat heat him and pushed him back for a second. It wasn't that he hated the heat, it was just the surprise in the sudden change in temperature.
Pushing on, Beno slowly crept on down the corridor to the next intersection. Holding himself to the side, he looked left and right before he moved on. He passed cells with prisoners in them. He wished he could help but right now he didn't have time. He had to keep to his objective and find Prince Astan and get him out.
Keeping low, Beno moved on down the corridor to the next intersection. He stopped and listened again for the guards. He heard talking coming from around the corner. Quickly he took a peek and found he was right around from a guard station.
"You, go east and relieve the guard there." A Gorilla with two stars on his chest said. "Tell him he is to be back to relieve you in six hours. Geston, take the main corridor down to the west where that Tigaren is. Keep a watch on him. I don't trust him. I will get you a snack and send it to you. Keep alert or I will have your head."
"Yes Sir!"
Beno jumped and hurried back the way he came before the guard could turn the corner. He ducked into an empty cell and pulled the door so it looked almost closed. He stepped in and laid himself on the cot and pulled the blanket over himself and waited. In less than a minute, the guard started on his way pass the cell. Beno moaned loudly attracting the guards attention. He stopped and looked into the cell and noticed the open door. This part of the dungeon was supposed to be kept empty. Who could possibly be in there? He thought.
Beno moaned again and fidgeted in the cot moving around and making noise. Geston went into the cell. He moved over to the cot and reached down to pull away the blanket. Beno leaped up and grabbed Geston by the neck and twisted violently snapping his neck. Quickly Beno stripped him of his uniform, than put him on the cot and covered him with the blanket. He donned the Gorillas armor and helmet and headed down the western corridor to find Prince Astan.
