《Lightfall 4:  Darkest Sinlight》


 Ch.1 The Blood of Osahara

    What a wonderful feeling, Rohjer mused, taking time to appreciate how rich and full his life was. He had a numb spot forming on his right side where Dedicant Erak slumped against him. Osahara knelt on a pillow in the central aisle of the air chariot offering his thick wrist. Lord Lightfall let approval curve his lips faintly as he reached down with his left hand and pushed a tiny bit of his shakti, his personal energy, out of the index finger and into his blood slave''s wrist. No blood ran from the eighth inch incision through the deep brown skin and into a tiny artery, for Rohjer absorbed the physical blood along with the metaphysical ka, or shakti, the life energy of Osahara.


    Never ending gratitude that you, Lord of the Sky, lifted me up from the brick pits to this wonderful life of luxury.  Osahara''s feelings swarmed into Rohjer''s mind while he refreshed himself. Meetings with the shamans of the North were long drawn out marathons of mutual musing, meditation, and a hearty exchange of ancient traditional wisdom. Fine clean clothes are mine to wear every day. The best meals and the highest people of all Ardjia are my daily associates. Lord Lightfall, god of the red star, has blessed me by accepting this unworthy offering of ka.


    So comfortable... like a family... strong, rich, beautiful ka from one so kind so generous of spirit, to this unworthy one, Rohjer mused, sharing the warm feelings with Osahara through the blood link. Servitor Diplomats from the Tattva Sanga had to feel the greater society of sentients as their family. The welfare and peace of all beings throughout the Intergalactic Identic of some thirty thousand planets and systems made up their life''s work, their mission. Contrary to his Tattva Sanga superiors, Rohjer felt his work with the Ardjiani rulers supremely imperative to maintain that welfare and peace. Peace. Quiet joyful moments like this, sharing blood and ka with a close servant. Yet there was no word for the concept of peace in all Ardjia''s many languages.


    They were headed back to welcome their newly tattooed and promoted guardsmen. He was used to Ishaq always at his right elbow murmuring terse bits of information, Nkosi at his heels watching his back.


    The shamans of the North did not have their own dressers, even the King''s shaman Amaruq. They only took one student in their lifetime, ostensibly to become their replacement. On Ardjia replacing might involve killing. They all had a laugh when Rohjer gave Erak a stern glance while speaking of the many students a Tattva Sanga Master might take in his lifetime. So it was just him Osahara, and a sleepy Erak along with an aircar of close to twenty Golden Valley guardsmen. They brought gifts, trade, and messages to the North and they also guarded Lord Lightfall with their a taste. He dutifully drank of each man''s ka, so that both he and his guards could get a read on each other, and reassurance that all were dedicated to the Were Jaguar King Aamankhotep, now King of all Sunset Highland.


    The King''s Advisor had the King''s ear and many thought, his heart. Rohjer did not disabuse them of this notion. It was more complicated than that, what with the ancient claiming ritual and the polygamy practiced on Ardjia. Rohjer hardly knew where he ended and Aamankhotep began some days. Four days away with Erak running around breathing the icy air of the north gave Rohjer this new perspective of the close affection of family, that he had learned, not from parents or any blood relative, but from his Master Fowaldu.


    The Shamans'' working day was mostly at night, performing healings and seeings, making potions and sacrificing small animals for the continued prosperity of their land and the Wear Ice Bear who ruled it; along with the Were Jaguar King who ruled over all on Sunset Highland. Rohjer loved the starry nights, so far from the, admittedly small amount, of light pollution of the big cities. He pointed out to Erak how the constellations rode a different position in the sky that far north.


    The very stars were farther away,  Osahara revealed fear in their bloodlink.  Just like when we traveled from the Mainland to the Highland. I thought we had come to the end of the world yet again.


    Rohjer sent soothing feelings of safety and protection. Uneducated in astronomy, or most anything, Osahara had held in that fear for 4 days.


    All is well. Am I not your very own Star Lord? Rohjer asked through his blood. Osahara nodded showing large round black eyes. Rohjer felt uncomfortable accepting all the pompous terms and accolades laid on him for merely existing, but it was true he had renounced the orders of the Tattva Sanga and instead taken on the role of Lord of Ardjia. You served me well in the North, as you always do.  Rohjer ended his refreshment, healing the tiny cut, then gestured slightly with his head that Osahara should take the seat across the aisle from him.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    He eased the air chariot''s seat back another notch and let his own thoughts drift. They had an hour left in their flight back to the Golden Valley just in time for a ceremony honoring and reassigning the guards after the action on Taproot - after the discovery of another sentient species.


    Back to long strong arms, Rohjer let out a deep sigh and let himself remember. Aamankhotep''s body heat covered his back, welcomed, oh so welcomed and wanted, but then the flash of a restraint ka spell snapped around his testicles as long thick cock entered him hard and sure. Aamankhotep controlled him utterly, and Rohjer loved it, loved surrendering the power he held over policy affecting the lives of millions, perhaps billions of sentients for millennia to come throughout the Identic Intergalactic civilization as he steered these ka wielders, writing into law their fledgling trade agreements, travel rights, and peace treaties; all the while fending off Aamankhotep''s bored attempts at flirting.


    The Were Jaguar King, Aamankhotep X, son of the current God Emperor of the recently discovered planet Ardjia, grandson of God Emperors for the past thousand years, ruler of the Golden Valley by blood and war, by conquering right, Deputy of the entire Sunset Highland Continent, not by Imperial Decree but also by that same conquering right. Nearly four years it took, first a fatal stab into the heart of the landmass, piercing the port cities of Pelican Bay and MossBack, tearing through Tench, Stickleback, all the small towns along the Trout River and finally killing the Were Lion King of Golden Valley. He took his daughter to wife. That accomplished, he set a leisurely pace to accept surrender or contest from every village head or regional king until at last he battled the King of the North in a spirit lodge and was found to have the qualities fit to rule the North and thus, the continent.


    Four nights away from his bed, his touch. Rohjer hoped that Aamankhotep was as eager to leave the ceremony early and get to bed. He had gifts for everyone, including a lovely white fox fur jacket for Zara, his intended. She earned his affection and respect as they got to know one another. He hoped to do the same in her eyes.


    The ship lurched, rolled a little, then righted itself. With little more than a thought, Rohjer used his shakti in the otherwhere world of intangible energy, to make sure the tangible safety restraints on the three of them were fastened. Next, touching his Rod of Chastisement and igniting its power stones, he cast a globe of protection around them.  To his eyes, they were in a bowl of pure white energy that would protect the three of them from shock, fire, any and all attacks. Something flashed by the window closest to Erak, now awake and looking about with concern.


    ¡°Is that a dragon?¡± he asked in sleepy young boy''s voice. The brief glimpse had resemble a were dragon of the Cloudbank Midland people, as large as their air chariot; but to Rohjer''s expanded otherwhere senses, there was not man, beast, or air car flying that close to theirs.


    Harried, the pilot began slowing and lowering the chariot.


    ¡°No!¡± Rohjer called. ¡°Do not land! There are no dragons there! Evade! Change direction!¡± But it was too late. They had already flown into a trap. A very loud sound accompanied a blast of frigid air. The front of the air car was simply gone and it took all Rohjer''s concentration and shakti to get the chariot down to the ground. He slowed and lowered it, surrounding the entire chariot with clouds of his shakti, burning away the energy Osahara had just given. Other ka joined his, the guardsman helped him cushion and land the craft without crashing it.


    ¡°Split up and run for the trees!¡± he yelled. ¡°It''s me they want!¡± Rohjer released the protections on Erak and Osahara. Hugging Erak close, he spoke into the boy''s black hair. ¡°Now is the time to practice your lesson of absolute stillness and silence. Do you remember?¡±


    Erak nodded his head, his brown eyes, large and serious. Around them, men in guardsman black leather evacuated the air car. They searched the area as they spread out, trying to distract attention from the Lord still in the broken air car. Four stood near Rohjer, determined to protect Lord Lightfall. Rohjer pulled up the carpet to reveal the handle of a floor panel, which he lifted. Erak could neither run away fast enough nor fight a threat this deadly. ¡°In here!¡± Rohjer said and the boy climbed down and nested in several cabin blankets. ¡°Now, still. Nothing. Patience. Tell Aamankhotep that it was not any dragon who took me.¡±


    Erak breathed deep as he had been taught, calming his mind and projecting thoughts of nothingness. Rohjer helped him along by pushing his young open mind into sleep. He quickly replaced the panel and carpet, then added a siddhi (shakti perfection) that erased Erak''s presence from all perception. He stood and found himself shocked at Osahara still standing there.


    ¡°I told you to run!¡± he yelled. ¡°You cannot fight. Get into the trees. Now go!¡±


    Osahara stumbled out the emergency exit at the back of the chariot just as two men with advanced energy weapons entered the craft from the torn front end. They are not Ardjians at all! Rohjer thought as the kinetic energy sliced right through his shakti protections and downed him.

 Chapter 2 The Fear of Erak

    ¡°Under attack by were dragons, Golden Control!¡±


    Aamankhotep listened to the recording one last time as his troop carrier descended to the scene of the massacre. His rare and striking green eyes were circled by fine red lines threading through the white. Otherwise his stern visage betrayed no trace of his whirling emotions.


    ¡°No! Do not land! There are no dragons there! Evade! Change direction!¡±  Rohjer''s voice sounded faint, in the background. And then there was nothing.


    Aamankhotep sighed and stood. An hour since... he stopped detecting Rohjer''s presence at all in the godworld. Gone for four days. He never should have let him go! An hour since Dethar came to him in his private quarters and gave him the news. The award ceremony canceled, Aamankhotep flew north to this site, where the air car went down. Impatiently, the Were Jaguar King, Deputy of Sunset Highland, let 20 of his men debark before him. Their cheeks and foreheads flashed new colors and shapes telling the tales of the sites they had seen and the personages they served.


    The dead lay in heaps as though flung by great force, with skin and clothing bloodily torn apart as though by wild animals. Dethar directed his attention to the terrible blisters and black burnt flesh which could only be caused by Identic energy weapons. Slug throwers, the ancient ancestor of such sidearms were outlawed on Ardjia and had always been. All of the guards, the men specially chosen by Dethar and approved by Aamankhotep to guard Rohjer on his little vacation to go play with the northern shamans. All dead. They were quickly accounted for, even the mangled parts of the pilot and co-pilot. No sign of Rohjer, nor his silver and red brocade, his wands, no whisper of... Aamankhotep delved deep into the godworld, forcing his mind to stay in the present and recent past as he examined the scene through his ka eyes.


    ¡°No dragons were here,¡± he murmured. Not the large land lizards of the southern Highland, nor the large flying were beasts of the Midland.


    Dethar only nodded, disgusted with the whole business. Trying to pull the ka blessed of Cloudbank Midlands into this violent attack on Lord Lightfall and the Highlands. Who would attempt such a trickery and why? Obviously, Identics were involved. No ka blessed of Ardjia would stoop to such clumsy inelegant weapons.


    The dark grey air chariot lay resting peacefully on the ground amongst the trees. Despite having the nose removed by something she had landed gently and well which spoke of the guards and Rohjer being in control all the way to the ground. But why no further message? Well, obviously the messaging equipment was destroyed. Why did he not call me? Aamankhotep''s hurt heart wanted to cry out. Again obviously, he was busy.


    ¡°He had the boy with him?¡± Aamankhotep asked, knowing full well it was so.


    ¡°And one blood slave,¡± Dethar answered.


    ¡°Rohjer would try to save them first before his own safety,¡± Aamankhotep murmured softly, approaching the broken craft with all his senses open and receiving. Dethar followed close behind, rod out and ready to shoot defensive ka spells in case of any attack. Aamankhotep moved slowly, navigating past the warped metal until he stood within the relatively unharmed interior of the air chariot. ¡°There,¡± he said, moving to where Rohjer had sat. Being so intimately connected with his Royal Advisor, Aamankhotep knew where Rohjer had been and tried to imagine what he had done. A child.... what would he do with the child?


    Rohjer was cunning and very good at concealing things. Aamankhotep daily wondered how much he truly did not know about the blue-eyed man from the stars. When he had first chased him, he had pretended to be a tiny bug and nearly fooled both Dethar and himself. Subtle was his specialty. Aamankhotep carefully ran his ka-enhanced gaze over every thread and seam of the seats. The guards had all storage cupboards open. Aamankhotep examined the carpet, and found its heartbeat.


    ¡°Here!¡± he said. ¡°Under here.¡± He pointed in front of his feet and guards knelt to pull at seats and carpet. The flooring came up and they could all see the latch of a door or container. When opened, there lay Dedicant Erak sound asleep.


    ¡°Come to me,¡± Aamankhotep whispered releasing Rohjer''s hold of sleep on the young boy''s mind.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Ah! Aamankhotep!¡± Erak piped, popping up out of the hold in an explosion of soft gold cabin blankets. ¡°Lord Aamankhotep! Lord Were Jaguar! Master Rohjer said it was not dragons!¡± He looked around blinking. Then his hand flew to his heart. ¡°Is Lord Master Rohjer dead?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Aamankhotep shouted, his control seriously tested in that moment. He took a shuddering breath and all the ka adept guards around him watched carefully, no doubt running through plans of how to get the boy out of the way should their King lash out in his anger and misery. The pain of being cut off from a successfully ritually Claimed usually resulted in madness.


    Father could not have done this. He knows how painful it is to me. How impossible. Yet Hhhamanhotep hints that Ttttutmosen plans his death on his birthday. He would lose all the gains I have given him here in the Highlands?


    Oh yes Little God, the voice of the mind of his grandmother, Goddess Empress Hhhhatshepsut, absorbed at her death, spoke within his godmind. Your success on Sunset Highland surprised us all in the Hat Ka and across the Mainland. Delighted us as well, mind you. But none of us added the unity of the Highlands to our political calculations.


    So I am a threat to him,  Aamankhotep stated wearily. The gaping hole where Rohjer''s life energy usually mingled with his own wore at his mind and heart. Four nights they had been apart and he had not complained, nor whined, nor skipped any of his duties; had added to them by spending time with both Sitamun, his First Wife from the Mainland and Iset, his Second Wife of the Golden Valley. He tried his dutiful best to be pleasant and engaged when in his true heart and mind, he counted the minutes till Rohjer was by his side again, in his bed again.


    ¡°All are accounted for, save Lord Lightfall,¡± a guard said clearly.


    ¡°Yes, he was kidnapped,¡± Aamankhotep''s voice had a hoarseness to it. He breathed and looked around the bloody scene again. Night would soon fall. ¡°By offworld ka users who clumsily disguised their attack with illusory dragons,¡± he stated slowly looking in growing concern at Dethar, who nodded his agreement with the summation.


    ¡°If he''s not dead, my King, then why can''t I feel him?¡± Erak asked sadly, still rubbing at his chest.


    ¡°Use your intelligence.¡± Aamankhotep''s lips thinned into an almost smile. ¡°Is that not what Lord Lightfall would tell you? His dead body is not here among so many. He is a great ka warrior and a pivotal asset. He knows Ardjia. He knows the Identic. He knows the Syndicate. And he knows the Tattva Sanga. He is too valuable to kill. So how has he been made to disappear, student of Lord Lightfall?¡±


    ¡°Nullstone,¡± Erak said, looking down to the ground to hide his embarrassment. Tightly controlled by the ka blessed and among other functions it was used to imprison the unruly ka blessed, nullstone''s composition made ka or shakti inert. So handcuffs or a neck torc or collar rendered the ka blessed as though ka blind. A small benefit to those imprisoned in nullstone: it also rendered external ka attacks inert and harmless. Gun butts, whips, and bare knuckles worked around it well enough.


    ¡°Worry not young Erak. Rohjer is alive and we will retrieve him.¡± Aamankhotep spoke with authority.


    He paused before entering the troop carrier. Was that a whiff of his father''s great power? Or had the current God Emperor simply taken an interest in the lack of Rohjer''s essence in the godworld. Surely, the were king cobra who sat on the throne of Ardjia and took note of everything that occurred, physically and metaphysically, would notice the loss of the most brightly burning spirit there in the godworld.


    No other burns as brightly as my Lightfall.


    Another hour until back in his Were Jaguar''s Den, in the communication room, Aamankhotep and Dethar set about infiltrating and then scanning the logs of the star ships docked at the Throne at River Mouth and the intercore satellite that sat in geosynchronous orbit around Ardjia. Looking for communications that might give a clue as to any plans concerning the kidnapping, they left to a computer keyword program. They scanned their own sky reports of any vehicle near that of Rohjer''s air car flight path. Radar at Gadus noted an air car heading west some twenty minutes before the attack, putting it in position at the right time. By the next morning, the intercore satellite coughed up the trajectory of a tiny ship departing Ardjia space just after the attack. They had the location of the anastomosis used and so an initial direction to follow, but that anastomosis led to Trinitron with its three anastomoses, one of which led to Parare and its seven anastomoses. They had no way to identify the ship from any other small ship across the Identic.


    Ishaq leading Rohjer''s contingent of guards returned from tending to the dead and bearing the news to the widows and parents. Aamankhotep left them and others to answer the Highland wide inquiries into the disappearance of Lord Lightfall''s ka from the godworld. All of his bloodslaves would notice sooner or later, even if they were ka blind. Rohjer was deeply in their hearts.


    Aamunet''s birthday came soon. Aamankhotep would add the award ceremony to it, since she was the next main personage to congratulate her guards personally on their accomplishments. It was supposed to have been Rohjer''s day...

 Chaper 3 The Belief of Ttttutmosen

    Shadows danced along the wall, while a giant hooded snake coiling, then rising up straight, balanced itself on threads of ka the living energy that moved all on Ardjia.


    ¡°Your sssecretsss are revealed to meee. The knowledge of your ancientsss isss myyy knowledge.¡±


    Ttttutmosen tall, straight, and proud in his gigantic were king cobra form stood in front of a small brazier where dragons blood resin smoked on hot charcoal. He chanted memorized stanzas in a forgotten language, the language he forced his snake tongue to form closely resembled that of the were dragons of Cloudbank Midland. Power was simply no more an obstacle for the God Emperor. Knowledge continued to elude him.


    ¡°I rule over you! I am your Lord!¡±


    His harsh aspirants and sibilants swirled around the room, summoning more and yet more ka.


    The fools had scampered while he toured their musty libraries, learning and assimilating their hidden secret knowledge; books that told of the keys to other books which described hidden places, temples, the strict genetics of the Midlanders as well as their were dragon royalty, the secrets of their were ka that let them remain in complete control of their ka spells even in were form. Ttttutmosen, too, mastered this skill and found that there was a special power to spells spoken in his king cobra form.


    ¡°I am the God Emperor! Sssupreme Ruler of aaall of Aaardjiaaa!¡±


    The voices in his head were divided. Most cooed in delight and either echoed his words or murmured words of praise. He had taught them to be quiet. There were so many of them, so very many of them. So many God Emperors of the past ages, now considered Gods in the afterlife, but that was their ba, their essential spirit soul and personality gone on to reside where the streets were made of gold, worshiped in perpetuity by grateful slaves and descendents. What he had claimed, by the hundreds, was the akh and sheut, the subtle ghostly body and shadow of the dead rulers and priests, along with various spouses and slaves. Not in thousands upon thousands of years had a rising of the undead like this been seen or even attempted. That Ttttutmosen alone succeeded in raising the sheuts sleeping in the four major burial cities of the Mainland dynasties including the oldest and first had all those voices convinced he was the greatest of them all, the Uniter Reborn as he so wished to become, the Living God of Blood and Ka, immortal and supreme.


    But there were other voices as well. The shades of the recently dead and buried God Emperors and Empresses, who recalled with pride their own noteworthy accomplishments; goals and quests achieved, for the good of their people! They were remembered and the candles were lit and the fruits were left in their memory in appreciation for real actions! The office of God Emperor was not some vain self-serving opportunity to practice sorcerer¡¯s trickery, what to speak of this illogical attempt at a living immortality! You lived on Ardjia the time allotted for you, many thousands of years, or one year. Initially most outspoken, now bound in silence was the priest Hemata who developed the Unrise and Unset summonings and put them down into a codex with only good intentions; not for this bastard perversion of raising every dead sheut just in case they had a speck of relevant knowledge.


    ¡°I know the placcce of your sssecret meetingsss! For I am your ruler!¡± the giant snake hissed, it''s flaring head almost brushing the ceiling as the tall figure swayed before the brazier. He spoke and because he had the blessing of the Throne of Ardjia Herself, it was truth. He suddenly knew the exact location of the secret meeting place of the Eight Kings of Cloudbank Midland.


    Keeping the location firmly fixed in his mind, Ttttutmosen let go the were cobra form and resumed his human form of a tall thin man with black hair and blacker eyes, dressed in a simple white robe. Black shadows flickered on the walls. Gold and jewels were all well and good for putting on a show, but these Midlanders had dismissed his every attempt at peaceful compromise during his tour. He was beyond the trappings of office now. Ttttutmosen relied only on ka, on power pure and simple, for he knew that his was greater than anyone else alive!


    The God Emperor, student of thousands of texts, began another ka spell with his rich compelling voice. He altered an ancient spell meant for dream travel, adjusting it for the waking world and the physical body. It had worked over shorter distances. Ttttutmosen was fully confident that this spell would take him to his desired destination, deep within the heart of the Midland.


    ¡°There is a place my heart desires. A place that I must go.


    Ard, water, air, and fire, the place that I must know.


    By the mountains of Cloudbank Midland, by the lakes of Sunrise Lowland,


    By the desert winds of the United Mainland, by the volcanoes of Sunset Highland,


    By the ba of Mother Ardjia, all her places are as one.


    She takes me from this to that one.


    Step forward. It is done.¡±


    With that, Ttttutmosen took a solid bold step forward onto the brazier, but he felt no heat and his foot set down on solid ground as though the brazier was not there. It no longer was. He found himself in the dimly lit cavern of his inner knowledge from the previous spellwork. An enclosed cavern, huge, thousands of feet high and wide dwarfed a lake and the four people sitting beside it in a circle. There were protrusions of rock in all directions from the curved walls. Some appeared like switchback stair cases, others large ledges. High on one of the ledges, a fifth person tended a large brazier near a large brass gong that reflected the fire''s light. Ttttutmosen walked toward the group by the lake. They sat in various meditative postures on the hard rock though there were silk pillows strewn about in all the colors of the rainbow. Lanterns on tables cast a soft glow around them.


    Suddenly the gong rang a tremendous tone throughout the cavern, its sound thrummed in the bones of the body as well as the bones of the earth. Ttttutmosen glanced up to the ledge and took note that a woman had beat the huge brass disc with a large wooden mallet. She returned to stand beside the brazier that was larger than her. He continued approaching the four, when one after another, four more men appeared from various dark places in the cavern and began approaching as well.


    ¡°You are not welcome here,¡± began the man wearing a green heavy silk brocade robe with sleeves that draped to the floor. His hair was black. All the others had grey or white hair indicating immense age. Few rulers on the other three land masses lived long enough to attain the signs of age.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Shagach the Green, of growth and foodstuffs, Better you welcome me with words of praise for my daring and achieving the impossible,¡± Ttttutmosen answered evenly.


    ¡°It is forbidden! Just because you have the means does not give you the right!¡± The Golden Emperor wore a cloth of gold frock coat over red wine colored loose shirt and trousers.


    ¡°Injang the Gold, of Day and the sun. I am God Emperor! That gives me the perfect right to come confront you in your little hidey hole and demand justice for the attack on my Second Son!¡± Ttttutmosen''s voice, while rich and smooth, also showed his anger. ¡°During his ascension to the apex of Sunset Highland, an Ice dragon attacked without provocation. We demand recompense.¡±


    ¡°I am Ganguleh, the Diamond Emperor,¡± said the man with long white hair pulled back into a long thick horse tail. He wore a simple white robe like Ttttutmosen''s but as the lantern light made as many shadows as it gave light, so the cloth seemed to show sheer and then not with each breath of the ruler of the land of Ice and Water. ¡°We have heard rumors of such a dreadful occurrence, but we do not condone such actions and did not send any ice dragon to bother your Second Son. We respect the Treaty of Monetary Exchange and Trade of Goods.¡± His tone clearly reminded all present that Ttttutmosen broke this treaty by being here.


    ¡°And yet it happened.¡± Ttttutmosen snapped, his tone brooked no argument.


    ¡°We have heard as much,¡± wizened Ganzix the Amber Emperor of Fire in his ancient ceremonial orange and red layers of robes nodded in agreement. ¡°Word came by way of the fisheries from there to here. But we have no knowledge of the dragon who committed such aggression, or we would turn over his family seven generations worth to you.¡±


    ¡°Phhh!¡± Ttttutmosen made a rude noise. ¡°If I wanted him or his family, I''d have him! No,¡± he said slowly. ¡°I want your direct daughters for my sons to marry.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± barked the Amethyst Emperor of Godshome. He wore muddy brown wrap around robe with a wide belt. His eyes flashed a purple glow now and then in the dim light.


    ¡°Heresy!¡± protested Gold Emperor Injang.


    ¡°Sons too!¡± Ttttutmosen thundered above their protests. ¡°For I have many daughters!¡±


    ¡°We will never mix our children with the mudlings of your Mainland!¡± Shagach roared then suddenly transformed and expanded into his green dragon form.


    Ttttutmosen paid no heed. He could deflect any spell any of them threw at him, man or dragon. He wanted their blood, their ka, their secrets. ¡°Who is the eldest of you? Who is the most knowledgeable?¡± He looked around at the wrinkled eyes and white haired men trying to judge.


    ¡°It is I!¡± called a frail woman''s voice from high up on the ledge. The short woman wrapped in flower patterned silk with a wide cloth belt stood under five feet tall but her presence in the godworld was immense and aged; perhaps even ancient. Surely she was as ancient as the dragon kings around Ttttutmosen. He suspected that one ruled the eight. She must be the true King of Cloudbank!


    ¡°Quiet fool woman!¡± the equally wizened Amber Emperor shouted. Wispy grey hair hung at the back of his otherwise bald head. Ropes of glowing fiery amber covered his chest and bracelets of it ran up his forearms accenting the fiery colors of his robes.


    ¡°Depart!¡± she called to her countrymen. ¡°This is between the Mainland Emperor and me, the Goddess of Mists!¡±


    While they dithered Ttttutmosen made himself busy with disastrous magics in his mind. Ka appeared at his fingertips and struck out to instantly kill the Godshome king, the so-called Amethyst Emperor. He fell down dead and the others snapped protective ka around themselves.


    Two men disappeared in reaction. The Jade Emperor remained in his were dragon form. He drew a great breath. Ttttutmosen turned to confront him.


    With a rattle of amber necklaces Ganzix leapt up to the ledge where the gong and brazier stood. Before he could land, the Goddess of Mists went sailing high over everyone''s head, her many layers of robes and under robes and long sleeves trailing behind her. She disappeared deep into the lake.


    Ttttutmosen parried ka spell attacks from the others and protected himself from the green dragon''s fire that lit up the entire cavern.


    ¡°Shagach, do not face him!¡± Ganzix shouted from the ledge. ¡°We cannot lose you!¡±


    Ttttutmosen finally gained a split second to attack. He sent a bolt of steel arrowing toward the green dragon''s breast. He had no time to wonder that they all leapt to the green dragon''s defense, thwarting his ''sword arrow'' ka. He only took advantage of the fact they left the woman alone. Perhaps she had a way out of the cavern at the bottom of the lake. As he compressed space and leaped for the lake Ttttutmosen heard the dragon roar then cut off as it and more men disappeared.


    Underwater, Ttttutmosen survived on pure ka. He had no more need of air than he had of food. The Empress stood on the bottom, her dress slowly undulating with the currents. Her white hair was wrapped and pinned at the back of her head by a great amber hair pin.


    Guessing at her affiliation, if not origin, he taunted, ¡°After I kill you. I will kill Ganzix.¡±


    ¡°You will kill no one,¡± she calmly replied, showing no shock at the thoughts placed directly in her mind. ¡°I admit to curiosity as to your motive. We have done you no harm and have endlessly accommodated your whims here in our country, despite the prohibitions of the Treaty. Why do you persist in tormenting us?¡±


    Her serene confidence gave him pause. Ttttutmosen smirked as he readied a killing magic. ¡°You know what secrets you hide from me. I will have them with your last breath.¡±


    Slowly she wove her arms in a sinuous dance, the long sleeves trailed in the water behind her hands which contorted in intricate mudras. A bubble puffed from her mouth and rose quickly away from them. Next she simply held her arms toward Ttttutmosen hands upright as though pushing a wall, or futilely holding back the ocean.


    Soon he would know what those finger signs meant. Soon he would have all the ka spell knowledge and ancient wisdom of the Goddess of Mists! Ttttutmosen summoned her bodily toward him and sliced through her disconcertingly thin ka of protection. She did not resist and Ttttutmosen felt the last of the Cloudbank kings leave, Ganzix it was, with a cry of ¡°Nana!¡±


    Ttttutmosen stabbed his ka into her heart and closed his lips over hers in a parody of passion. He pulled and easily consumed the life force of a frail old woman. Yes, she was ancient, over eight hundred years old, but she was no goddess! Treachery! She was Ganzix'' nursemaid all those years ago! She attended him and his children as the centuries went by until now she tended the sacred fire of the Eight Emperors. With an unusual roar of pure rage, Ttttutmosen let go her body and shot to the surface, ready to unleash his fury on all eight of the were dragon kings. But of course they were all gone by then. She had distracted him long enough that Ganzix could receive her dying breath, that innocent air bubble, and depart to mourn her death as well as the loss of their hidden meeting hall.


    Clever clever Ttttutmosen had already placed a tracer on all the Cloudbank Emperors. It led him to one after the other, Ganzix first, and he proceeded to murder them and any retainers who tried to stop him. It took several days and he could never find the Shagach, the Jade Emperor. Finally he returned home to River Mouth and his two wives. He had no time for them, or to look after the state of his empire.


    ¡°I must assimilate all I have learned,¡± he said, mildly declining their invitation to dine. ¡°I have all the knowledge of Cloudbank at my disposal now.¡±

 Ch. 4 The Battle of Kold Ring

    ¡°Like I said, this is just a routine check up as written in the agreement thing. I''ve got Ardjianis and scientists from Parare on board.¡± Lieutenant Taedua continued conversation with Kold Ring command via the local space intracore network of satellites. He wasn''t used to the urgings of the voice in his mind, nor the thick heavy grip that voice had on his actions.


    General Ngozi, Scythe of Ardji''s Throne marveled at the Identic''s bored tone. The communications officer now a blood slave, completely under his control, perfectly followed his instruction to raise no suspicions. ¡°Just a little bit closer.¡± he called mentally to his team of telepathic hitmen. They were the best at subverting the target''s mind and will at a significant distance. He could feel the alien minds at Kold Ring but he could not yet drown them with his ka. The journey from Taproot, begun once Lord Lightfall revealed that messages from both Ngozi''s own brother son Jumoke and the Tattva Sanga female Maina were false, took eight anastomoses jumps. Too much time with no new information.


    The comm officer gave over the channel to an Identic scientist who likewise obfuscated exactly what they were up to by expressing shock that there were no social scientists like her out here studying the primitive Ardjianis learning to build a technologically advanced achievement like the space station and asteroid mining facilities.


    They were all under Ngozi''s will and those of his men. Every Identic scientist he had taken to Taproot, every member of the ships'' crews had been overwhelmed by his mental suasion, succumbed, and eventually knelt and offered blood and ka. He spent a lot of time with the officers of the three ships he led to Taproot: Bloody Skull Explorer, his command ship, Ardjia Miner Two, and Star Rise a medium sized pleasure yacht. General Mumuya oversaw the security of the Ardjiani workers at Kold Ring from Gentle Explorer. The workers had traveled weeks ago in Ardjia Miner One. Solar Thunder was the third ship sent to begin the agreed exchange of knowledge for travel rights between Ardjia and the Syndicate at this area of space known as Kold Ring.


    The messages from Mumuya got stranger. Ngozi could not fall into sleep at night for wondering what the Syndicate people had done to takeover Mumuya and all his warriors. Were they all dead? Was this a colossal trap he led all his men toward? There was no trace of Mumuya. Normally his ka burned red in the godworld and he was, in all ways, Ngozi''s second, trusted in everything. The PPI (Plot Position Indicator) Analyst confirmed that Ardjia Miner Two was nowhere nearby, which covered some billion miles, or eleven AU (Astronomical Units). There was however a blip in the asteroid field about half the size of Ardjia Miner Two.


    The three ship flotilla came in hot and soon Ngozi and his telepathic hitmen began to contact unshielded ka blind minds in the godworld.


    ¡°Shields up. Prepare for war,¡± he said to the Bloody Skull Explorer''s Captain.


    ¡°Raise the plasma barrier. Call the fighter pilots to the hangar. Arm bays One and Three. And,¡± she smiled as alarms began to sound and red lights began to wig wag, ¡°sound General Quarters.¡± Internally Captain Raindsen knew her mind was subverted by the alien general, but this ship had never seen any real action. That this action was against the Syndicate and thus the Identic gave her conscience a twitch, but she was excited to put her ship through its paces all the same.


    ¡°This is not a drill,¡± she called on the shipwide comm. ¡°This is not a drill!¡±


    Gasps and growls sounded from the Ardjiani warriors grouped behind the Captain chair on the ship''s bridge. Ngozi narrated in spurts. ¡°They exploded Miner One. Killed them all. Tried to make it look like an accident.¡±


    A chill down Captain Raindsen''s spine made her shudder involuntarily.


    ¡°Why would they do such a treachery?¡± Ngozi pushed the thoughtbird into her mind.


    She answered aloud. ¡°I always follow the money. How does this benefit them?¡± Then she nodded to herself. It was startlingly obvious. ¡°If you are discredited in building stations and mining, in space work in general, then the Syndic will have to do everything for you. And they maintain full control over all the jump points. I mean, the anastomoses.¡±


    ¡°The next question is how did they do it?¡± Ngozi''s thought was absent, as though he spoke to himself. She had no idea, so she did not answer and instead watched the progress of her weapons personnel. Of the three ships, the Explorer, being a survey ship had a few weapons, but not much. The Miner had impressive mining technology that could be converted into wicked weaponry.


    ¡°New staff wearing nullstone bracelets and necklaces!¡± an Imperial guardsman exclaimed loudly in the godworld. He shared out publicly his reading of a memory of how the three ships received new crew. Some wore the nullstone and the Ardjiani warriors respected their obvious desire for mental privacy.


    ¡°Ion Beam Fusion ready!¡± Bridge Security Officer Warren called out what was blinking green on everyone''s board.


    More gasps, followed by words from the Ardjianis, ¡°My brother!¡± ¡°My mother sister son!¡± ¡°How evil!¡±


    ¡°They poisoned them.¡° Ngozi''s public mental tone was firm and incontrovertible. ¡°Have the unfettered remove the nullstone of the fettered ones,¡± he advised his warriors. One by one Ngozi and his men attached to a ka blind mind, overwhelmed it with ka, and demanded, willed that it surrender and obey. He was stunned at the Syndicate''s idiocy. What did they think the Ardjianis would do once this was found out? Meekly accept their impotence and turn tail and go back down the gravity well? For the rest of eternity? He would show them this day what Ardjia would do! He would show the universe and thousands of worlds what Ardjia would do!


    First they had the ka blind subdue the bridge crew of Star Rise and Gentle Explorer. Then they had those comm officers report to the four other ships stationed in and around the training facility that this visit was scheduled and perfectly normal, nothing to worry about; all the while speeding closer to those ships. Thankfully Ngozi contacted Jumoke who had holed up with Maina in the secondary bridge of Star Rise after their guards all died of poisoned food made by the new kitchen crew. The bridge was little more than a room with four bolted down seats in front of an endless bank of monitors and controls with a wash closet behind. With Maina''s Tattva Sanga backdoor code they were able to monitor communications and research information, but they were quickly locked out of anything else. Maina knew very little about coercing another''s will what to speak of completely enslaving another''s mind. Without General Mumuya''s support, and in the wake of his and his warriors'' murders, Jumoke did not feel confident to push forth an attack of his own.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    The godworld of a thousand minds around the barely begun station in the Kold Ring asteroid field appeared as bumps and bulges of ka blind lifeforms in General Ngozi''s godmind. The dark rich ka of his ka blessed warriors glowed red around his mind engaging and dominating the lesser minds across huge physical distances in space that meant little to nothing in the godworld. He could not help but see the bright white of the alien girl''s ka, shakti they called it, steadily supporting the dull yellow of his brother''s son, Jumoke''s ka, so like his own mother''s, Goddess Hhhhatshepsut''s ka. Different minds and spirits, filled with thoughts and cunning, not so much the blood ka of servants and slaves, like his own.


    ¡°We have the bridge crew of Star Rise,¡± Ngozi heard Jumoke''s mental voice just as Captain Raindsen announced, ¡±All Ardjiani ships coordinating and shielded!¡±


    ¡°Get behind me,¡± Ngozi ordered Jumoke. ¡°Away from them.¡± He referred of course to the four Identic military ships; the brig Vadentin which held the Commander of the Task Force and three cutters: Ekard, Slippich, and Ttoirramm.


    ¡°Small ships with big weapons,¡± Captain Raindsen thought unhelpfully. ¡°They don''t have planet busters or anything like that, but a nuke or other missile through our shield kills us dead.¡±


    ¡°That will not happen!¡± Ngozi snapped. His three ships continued toward the Star Rise and Gentle Explorer where a ten of guardsmen had been asleep when the mass poisoning took place and been holed up in one corridor against the nullstone wearers ever since.


    Ngozi spoke to them, ¡°Attarra, we are here for you now. You may engage the enemy in close combat. Get their collars off at all cost. We will take their minds from the godworld, so that you may be fully in the material world.¡±


    ¡°Yes! My General!¡± a chorus of mental voices answered him and aboard the Gentle Explorer, they boiled out of their corridor and toward the bridge. Ardjian military black leather flashed and flitted as Warriors leapt and landed, slashing at hands and thighs for distraction, then reaching and unlocking bracelets and collars of stone. After the initial surprise attack, the band of ten had to defend against blaster fire, but that was no match for the ka of Ardjia''s Warriors! Without a care to the ka blind behind, they charged forward. Attara went down but his killer''s mind was freed to the godworld then captured by the mental power of Ngozi and the Warriors on the Bloody Skull.


    Quickly the Gentle Explorer came under Ngozi''s control. Two of the Ten were lost, but they had died in the God Emperor''s service and so would await him in the golden world of the ascended Gods and Goddesses. Now he had five ships to the Identic''s four, but theirs were fighting ships filled with armament and ammunition while the two Explorer class ships had fusion weapons and the Miner had tools powerful enough to cut and explode asteroids, the two yachts bore only pop guns of no real utility.


    Waiting for the Gentle Explorer to join his group allowed the Identic ships to form a line such that any fire from Ngozi''s ships could only hit the first ship, the cutter Thoirram. Ngozi let Captain Raindsen retreat from them and accelerate his group toward the far side of the skeleton of the station. Once they grouped behind that bit of shelter, they could head for the nearest large asteroid.


    Ngozi and his men next turned their mental assault in the godworld toward the minds they could reach aboard the command ship Vadentin, third in the line. The unfettered minds, they found entirely sympathetic toward the Ardjiani cause. They had served for weeks with the dark skinned, black haired people of Ardjia without any mental attack at all. The Ardjianis eagerly soaked up any and all knowledge the Identic scientists, miners, and ship crew shared. They had been excited to be part of this tremendous undertaking that would lead to more exchange and a huge leap in anastomosis travel between all the planets of the Identic. Then, they had witnessed the arrival of the ''relief'' ships. Not a miner or technical ship among them. No huge influx of materials nor educators came from them, just crew ordering them relieved of duty and to transfer off ship. There weren''t enough nullstone pieces to go around. Then rumors spread of the disappearance of Ardjia Miner One and they were no longer able to communicate friendly messages to their former ships. There was no need for such barbaric behavior. Surely it was all a terrible mistake?


    ¡°No,¡± the General Ngozi''s voice filled their minds. ¡°No mistake. The Identic has betrayed the Agreement. We will take retribution. You will obey.¡±


    ¡°We will obey,¡± the unfettered ka blind Identics chorused.


    ¡°Use subterfuge to get close to them. Take off their nullstone adornments.¡±


    ¡°We will obey.¡±


    Shots of ship-safe slug throwers and blasts of blasters sounded in the real world as death screams rang out in the godworld of the Vadentin.


    ¡°To me!¡± Zitin cried into the godworld from the Gentle Explorer and a hundred Ardjia Warrior minds joined to reflect the energy pulse from the Ttoirramm back to its source.


    A white flash drew eyes to the PPI aboard the Bloody Skull. The Ttoirramm pip next turned black, followed quickly by the other three Identic ships turning from enemy red to a dull brown indicating they had struck their engines and weapons and lowered their shields. The Ttoirramm was dead. There might be survivors in isolated pockets or aboard escape pods.


    Minute after minute ticked by and Ngozi, sweat flowing freely from his temples, gained more and more mental control over the Identics. Commander Antern of Task Force Ringmaster ordered the ceasefire and surrender. Internally he screamed in defiance, but Ngozi had full control over him. Soon he and all his ka blind soldiers would give their blood and lifelong loyalty to General Ngozi and his Warriors.


    While he transferred to the Vadentin and called Jumoke to do the same he allowed shuttles out to rescue survivors on the Ttoirramm. He let his men loose on the bridge crew and their computers while he picked apart the orders and thoughts of the Commander. Fresh anger quickly ran around the minds on the bridge, then out to the whole ship, and eventually all the ships.


    ¡°Lies! Lies! All lies!¡± Ngozi intoned in disgust roaring through the godworld. He found that these ships had traveled only two jumps from Parare, not the ten they should have. At least their journey back to Ardjia would be shorter if they chose to go through Parare space, which Ngozi freely dared!

 Chaper 5 The Mind of Rohjer Doss

    His inner mind informed him that he was conscious, sluggish, drugged? Or simply beaten. Rohjer''s surface mind began to take in information and sensations. Stale recycled air and an inaudible barely felt thrum meant clearly that he traveled on a starship.


    No Aamankhotep. No Osahara nearby waiting to give Rohjer a drop of blood, refreshment upon first rising for the day. The alarm of not feeling them in the otherwhere, jolted Rohjer''s five-mind into deep mentation. Surface mind cataloged the details of his environment as received through his physical senses. Stale recycled air, uncomfortable pad underneath him, hum of ship systems, artificial light. Inner mind searched desperately for anyone, anyone at all in the otherwhere. Mid-mind pushed forth memories: the days with the shamans, Erak warm and asleep beside him. Then, something happened. Deep mind, where survival instinct resided tried to protect him from shock by clouding over the memories of his mid-mind. Shakti mind, Rohjer''s spiritual essence, his true whole self, slowed time to one resounding tick after each tock.


    He reached up with his fingers to confirm what he already knew. His shakti could reach out not at all. He was bound by a collar of nullstone. His fingertips itched as they ran around it, looking for the clasp, for any imperfection in its smoothness where he could catch a hold of the damned thing and rip it off his neck.


    ¡°Only the space constrained by the nullstone.¡±


    It was a memory pushed forward by his mid-mind, randomly Rohjer thought at first. The ground car was sumptuously appointed. High champagne satin covered ceiling, richly polished wooden accents, plush overstuffed couches. Himself, Aamankhotep, Ahmose and that Blood Priest boy he renamed Shamasundar. Why were they talking about nullstone? Oh yes, Rohjer was fascinated how Aamankhotep and his grandmother could peacefully sit locked within a room made of it ¨C incarcerated in a cage, to Rohjer ¨C and work their clairvoyance, seeing the future and the past either in candle flame or in their own drops of blood as they dispersed in a bowl of water.


    ¡°Only the space constrained by the nullstone.¡± Ahmose had said it. In a correcting tone even. At the time, Rohjer dismissed at as useless because all of everything in space was constrained. He could not reach, with his shakti, anything outside his own body. But of course, he could still manipulate shakti within his body, within the constraint of the nullstone collar. Rohjer felt as if he had just fully understood a very basic Tattva Sanga shakti tenant that his Master had tried to teach him for a very long time. Why did he always beat his head against the straight on obstacle? Why not try some completely different solution? Living with Ardjianis had helped him learn sideways thinking, he laughed quietly to himself.


    Days came and went. His captors, four rough-looking scarred humans or humanoids, outlaws obviously, took turns at running the ship and watching over him. He got a bowl of hot grain and a cup of reconstituted milk, or something that once thought it might have liked to be milk, each day along with all the water he wanted at the tiny sink in his cell. They would not answer any questions, but enjoyed taunting him, especially the rougher looking pair that wore thick clothing with a rancid scent and brandished their weapons whenever they stalked by his cell.


    To pass the time Rohjer kept his consciousness immersed within his deep mind and shakti mind. Externally he barely breathed, sitting calmly on the floor in a relaxed badda koe na sana position, soles touching in front, his legs like butterfly wings. He had so very much to assimilate from his earliest days meeting and experiencing the powerful ka blessed rulers of Ardjia to drowning in the planet mind of Taproot. His feelings for Aamankhotep eclipsed his feelings for everyone else. How could he love Zahra? He often caught himself lacking in the proper respect for his spiritual godbrothers, Adepts Sirocco and Daya, because Aamankhotep had given him so many mundane titles and duties. The Were Jaguar King demanded so much of him, so much of his time, he hardly had a moment for anyone else.


    It was not his fault that Daya hesitated over every decision until Rohjer or Aamankhotep snapped an order at him. He could have stayed on Parare, but he chose to play the role of Rohjer''s servant, Rohjer''s surrendered blood slave. Rohjer could never think of him as only that. Daya had the rank of Adept, equal to Rohjer''s Master Fohwaldu. Rohjer felt he should be serving Daya, but he wasn''t. The mission, the peaceful entrance of Ardjia into the Identic, required the reverse.


    What of his own student? The boy Erak? He had to work on basic reading, writing, and numbers with the priests. The boy could see, feel, and speak in the otherwhere. He knew it existed. Yet, no matter how much effort the boy put in, he would never have the talent to be more than Rohjer''s valet. In time, perhaps he would push Erak toward some career.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Rohjer went through a series of isolation exercises, flexing and relaxing each muscle in his body. Next he added his internal ka to the exercise, holding the tension for long periods. At mealtime he was starved enough to ask for a second helping. Unable to draw on the outside universe for shakti energy, he quickly burned through his own. No more life giving drops of sweet blood and shakti from willing servants like Osahara and the others. The seeds of a plan began to form. If he could not act beyond the constraints of the nullstone, he simply had to draw them into those constraints.


    Who had done this and why? Rohjer immediately dismissed anyone on Ardjia. Some hated him. He trusted Aamankhotep though, that the many attempts on his life were meant to only wound him, to display displeasure. Aamankhotep made sure they feared him more than they hated Rohjer. Random slave traders looking for a shakti slave? That just didn''t add up. Why venture into Ardjia space and stage the elaborate dragon illusions, which indicated they were shakti users themselves, to kidnap him, when they had a planet full of ka users? They had specifically targeted him, Rohjer Doss, or the illustrious Lord Lightfall, take your pick. Which meant they knew of his trip to the North and the exact vector he would return on. Betrayal? Or someone powerful enough not to need an informant, someone powerful enough to know Rohjer''s whereabouts anytime he cared to peer into the otherwhere. Someone like God Emperor Ttttutmosen. Rohjer did not want to overlook anything in his strong suspicions of Ardjia''s ruler. The man couldn''t be behind everything! And he knew what their separation would do to his son. A burning hole ate at Rohjer day and night making it difficult to think, to sleep, to do anything but miss Aamankhotep terribly. If only the nullstone were gone, he would know that Aamankhotep yet lived, but with it blocking his natural sixth sense of the otherwhere, it felt as though Aamankhotep were dead, along with Rohjer''s several hundreds of servants. All dead. Their comforting presence uplifted him no longer. Dead, dead, dead. Nullstone made him feel as though he was dead. It seemed to actively leech the shakti from his body, mind, and soul, rather than simply block it. A Tattva Sanga Servitor constantly passed shakti back and forth to his surrounding environment. Taking it from food, drink, and air; giving it to others in his words, expressions, duties, actions. Trained all his life to ''breathe'' shakti in the otherwhere, being cut off like this put Rohjer into great suffering. Soon, he could no longer expend shakti in his own muscles. Two bowls of grain per day were insufficient to replenish him. His muscles began to weaken with confinement.


    The separation from like minded people, from other shakti users, and from any purposeful activity weighed on his soul as well. He wondered what ever had happened to the situation on Rollodon that he had been sent to guide and oversee. He knew Rollodon was unhurt by the anastomosis Cataclysm as it was called, the night everything changed, in his life, as well as the Universe''s order. It was one of the very few inhabited planets that had its travel time from Parare lengthened by the Ardjia anastomses, rather than shortened.


    He could not even have civilized conversation with his captors. They were likely to beat him senseless if he gave a hint of making a request or telling them what was moral, ethical, spiritual, etc. He tried to fish out some personal details. It seemed they had all four been born far out of the Identic and thus greatly resented Tattva Sanga members, who only operated within the Identic, jealous of his upbringing and training, while disparaging it at every turn. So Rohjer''s isolation grew.


    He refused to pity himself and wallow in sorrow. He did have purpose he reminded himself over and over. He would live to escape and get back to Erak who needed him, to Aamankhotep who needed him, to Zahra who needed him, to his servants and guards who needed him. He needed them all just as much. Erak was a young boy. It wasn''t fair to lift him up out of poverty and begin shakti training and then abandon him. The boy did have promise and the Tattva Sanga temple had to start somewhere on Ardjia. Rohjer''s deep mind moved back toward his hopeful picture of Erak as a wise scholar of the Books of Knowledge administrating the very first Tattva Sanga Temple, along with Daya and Sirocco''s students.


    ¡°Wake up and eat!¡± his captor called, banging the bell of his blaster against the crude bars of his cell.


    Rohjer blinked and complied, or tried to. His legs were numb. He had forgotten to track the time and change position regularly.


    The one called Lucky only laughed as he slid in 2 bowls of grain and the carafe of milk.


    Rohjer fell and panted, rubbing at his leg. This was unacceptable. He had been too much alone in his own mind. He had to get his physical strength back!


    ¡°Ya getting'' crazy in thar by yaself all the time?¡± Morak asked gleefully.


    Rohjer''s calm acceptance irritated them no end. ¡°Yes,¡± Rohjer said quietly. ¡°Would you sit with me?¡±


    Morak looked at Bender quizzically. Bender laughed. ¡°He''s softening on ya!¡±


    ¡°I miss people,¡± Rohjer said hesitantly, gulping down oats. ¡°And I miss sex.¡±


    Excitedly, the two came into the cell to hear Rohjer lament his lack of sex life.

 Chapter 6 The Marks of Service

    Memories threatened to overwhelm Kiilaq as he stood watch behind his Principal, the effective Empress of Taproot, Princess Aamunet. True, they''d left behind hardly more than a soldier''s camp, not an empire, but she was an Imperial princess and she ruled an entire planet. He prepared to receive the honors and recognition newly tattooed on his cheek bone. A tiny white triangle, long end pointing down and a tiny silver bear joined the red drop of blood that all Imperial troops wore and the black rod of all military men.


    Any honor he was given was due to his mother. She was a potato peeler in the royal kitchens of Seaside Home when he was four. The other toddlers teased him for being a baby and still suckling at his mother''s breast, sucking in her ka. He remembered her smile as she covered his face with a fall of cloth, making a secret tent for them. ¡°You will grow tall and strong on mother''s milk. They will grow slow and fat on cow''s milk,¡± she whispered confidently.


    He had not seen her since his promotion when Tttthutmosen took the Throne of Ardjia. When he was five she found a place for him at the War God''s feet. He promised her to serve the priests well, to learn the arts of war, and try his best to become a trusted guard. Placement, even a lowly station, in a well to do home meant a good life.


    He went back and shared his fortune with her when he could. Along with his ka. But not his secrets. Because he was drafted into the royal guard after two years as a foot soldier and his single-mindedness, skill, pure loyalty, and ka power drew him closer and closer to the royals, or at least to their guard; to men like Dethar. Until they became back to back brothers in arms during one of Captain Khaiti''s campaigns in the south and earned the sobriquets Kill and Death. Soon after, Dethar gained the notice of the Goddess Empress and was set the guardship of her grandson. Kiilaq continued rising in positions of trust in the Royal and then Imperial Armies, ever closer to General Ngozi.


    In an instant he went from Lieutenant of a squad of six special skilled Imperial Ka Warriors to Chief Guard of a Princess of the Aaaamankhotep Dynasty, who was one of the very few with the ability to godspeak with the alien bear people of Taproot. In fact, her skill changed their status from feral killer beasts to intelligent sentients in the eyes and minds and hearts of all the peoples of the many worlds of the Identic. Their planet Taproot went from a disputed resource to Ardjia''s protectorate with her as its effective ruler. How did the bears worship? Would there be a new order of priesthood too?


    That bear thing, Pale Strongclaw, the Voice of Wide River, accompanied the Were Impala Princess everywhere. Now that she had fed, the bear''s pregnant belly showed noticeably. Pale Strongclaw regarded him with those disturbing vertically slit pupils in brown eyes. Kiilaq kept well wishes for the health of her child in his surface mind. He could not mindspeak the bear. He could not see Lord Lightfall or the other Identics in the godworld unless they flared their brilliant white hot ka. And yet he had been chosen, by General Ngozi''s own hand to guard his daughter, this most exquisite and beautiful of royal princesses.


    In an instant he Captained the royal bodyguard unit of twenty when Aamunet''s importance suddenly jumped to include Speaker for the Vicious Throat Ripping Drop Bear Planet along with her status as beautiful, marriageable, Imperially connected Princess; well favored by the God Emperor''s Second Wife and the Were Jaguar King, Imperial Deputy of Sunset Highland.


    However at this sort of intimate service ceremony to be followed by her birthday celebration with a few dozens of friends and relatives and some two hundred predatory prospective husbands, only he, Kiilaq Captain of her Guard, was present at her side. Ten of her newly established guard faced her from the audience. No one here wished to kill her of course and that bear at her side could probably detect and defeat any real threat to the princess. The rest of the twenty positioned themselves along the path to the vehicle park and coordinated with the Were Jaguar King''s security via ear bud/mic. More than one of the wealthy, well connected men might entertain a plan to kidnap the princess and force her marriage that way, daring the wrath of Aamankhotep. He had caught the whispers about the odd over-protectiveness of her cousin. More fool they.


    Kiilaq could not blame them really. Princess Aamunet tasted of Ardjia in her essence; so beautiful, rich, soft, delicate, graceful, strong, yet also sharp and thorny all at once like an amurd flower, like Ardjia herself. Being in daily contact with her, watching over her sleep, discussing her schedule and security concerns, ''teaching'' her security, he knew he was dazzled by her, like all the others but he never, ever let a glimpse of it enter his surface mind so that when they exchanged blood for faster more accurate communication, for shared loyalty, she would never feel anything but his respect and proper soldierly affection for his Principal.


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    ¡°Be welcome all, friends, family, guards, and warriors,¡± Aamankhotep let his voice roll over the great audience hall of his Throne. Warriors snapped into sharp lines by Fives and Tens and hierarchy. ¡°Before I hand this over to my cousin, I wish us to remember and to honor those who are absent.¡±


    There was a pregnant pause while he looked out over the many faces. Kaff and the other Syndicate agents stood together. Kaff was a handsome ambitious brown haired blue eyed rake and had adopted the dress of a Golden Valley noble, though he held no title nor power. He seemed harmless so far.


    The guards'' turnout was impeccable. They had all attended meetings on the Mainland, warrior sect goings-on that Aamankhotep never inquired into. They returned to him with new uniforms and new marks on their faces. They decided the marks and their meanings. Black for military service, blue for royal, red signified Imperial work. Now the faces looking up at him were scattered with white, Rohjer''s color, or rather the color of the Noble House of Lord Lightfall and the stars. Those who served his personal guard bore tiny white tiger paw prints on their cheekbones. Ishaq also sported a red solid circle of the Blood Star Prophet and a longer white carrot shape, for service to the Conqueror of Taproot.


    ¡°General Ngozi and his many warriors courageously faced the unknown on Taproot. And even now they face the unknown far out in space at Kold Ring station. Pray to the gods for their safety and for that of my cousin Jjumoke.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Praise Ardjia!¡± ¡°Praise the War God!¡± came scattered shouts.


    He and Dethar had combed through transmissions and every bit of recorded data before and after Rohjer''s disappearance. They found a tiny blip given the go ahead by the Imperial Command station through Ardjia''s Glory, Ttttutmosen''s space yacht. Over and over in his mind ran the too short list of facts they had accumulated. A pack of were wolves from the Western Province missing Lord Lightfall''s presence in their godmind took an aircar to the scene and snuffled over it again and again, merely confirming what they already knew. The attack was by offworlders and no dragons, real or were, had been present.


    Those were wolves, in human form now, showed cheekbones with the white tiger paw, though they had never witnessed Lord Lightfall in his were form; and red circles of the Blood Star Prophet, though Rohjer had yet to accept them as such. The warrior sect of the Mainland allowed it, so who was a mere King to question?


    ¡°These are great times,¡± Aamankhotep spoke, his blood red eyes capturing everyone in the hall. ¡°Great deeds are done by great people. I introduce to you, one of the greatest, my Mother Brother Daughter, Princess Aamunet, Imperial Envoy to Taproot and Speaker for the Tree Talker people.¡±


    With a gracious smile that belied the constant searing pain in his eyes, Aamankhotep held out his arm for his cousin, then sat on his Throne behind her on the twenty step dias. A huge moment in her life, the warrior priests created a new mark for her and her alone, a silver round eared bear. Only her twenty guardsman wore this tattoo. She, like Rohjer had established her own Noble House.


    ¡°Thank you, King Aamankhotep,¡± she said with an intimate smile for her family member, who had watched over her these last couple years. She carried the bear on her hip like a child, then let it climb down to stand, blinking slowly before the crowd. Pale Strongclaw quickly sat, a more natural position for her little bandy legs.


    ¡°I have never had need of my own personal guard, living fully protected in the house of my relatives. With the appearance of Lord Lightfall, I have come to understand that all the many worlds need the protection of Ardjia''s finest warriors, like you here today standing before me.¡± Amunet smiled brightly over the standing men, and a small number of women warriors.


    ¡°Those of you who bear the living ka root of the planet Taproot, so bravely dared to leave Ardjia and explore an entirely new planet full of unknown dangers.¡± Those with the white caret of Taproot on their cheeks stepped forward to the dais. ¡°And met a new friend. True, there was misunderstanding and battle at first, but we managed ka mindspeak in the godworld, and as such, we found that the Tree Talker people are a people more like us than any other. They need our protection. I need your protection as I establish Ardjia''s presence on Taproot.¡±


    ¡°Join with me for this great mission.¡± As predetermined, her guardsmen came to her one at a time and the rest of the warriors who had been to Taproot approached Aamankhotep''s Throne. Instead of taking ka, like they did daily from their slaves, the Deputy and Envoy gave ka to their subordinates. This was a high honor, a recognition of services rendered on Taproot.


    Rohjer would have been here, delighted to give ka instead of receive it. Aamankhotep could almost see him smiling at each guard, murmuring words of encouragement and praise, getting to know the guards'' families through the blood link.


    Aamankhotep and Amunet flared their ka for their protectors, giving all in the audience hall life energy. In the godworld Aamankhotep''s ka appeared different from its usual deepest midnight green. It was now the black of old blood due to his suffering the separation of his Claim. Amunet''s ka settled over the room like a red mist, very like her father''s ka, though hers had a pretty flowery feel to it, whereas General Ngozi''s ka was the blood red of war.


    When it was done, they proceeded to give ka to newly accepted guardsmen and warriors drafted from the Imperial army to follow both Amunet''s and Aamankhotep''s orders from this day forward. Those who were new to Rohjer''s service simply had to wait for him to appear.


    Which he will! Aamankhotep told himself yet again.

 Chapter 7 The Eyes of Amunet

    Kiilaq stood ramrod straight guarding the princess'' door. The Were Impala! The Imperial Envoy to Taproot! The Speaker for Tree Talkers! he upbraided himself in the tiniest corner of his tightly shielded mind. When she breezed by him to enter her quarters her scent, mixed with a subtle perfume, went straight up his nostrils and something tensed deep in his groin.


    The chattering high pitched voices silenced and suddenly Aamunet was there again.


    ¡°You will feel free to enjoy the party, my Captain,¡± she said, looking deep into Kiilaq''s serious deep brown eyes, with an impish smile.


    "Of course, Princess Envoy,¡± Kiilaq returned blankly, stunned at her transformation. She had completely changed all of her clothing and jewelry. He thought she was only taking a moment to ''freshen up'', but now, a shimmering bright red, floor length gown, replaced the Imperial white flowing robe. Bright golden flowers with diamond and ruby jewels adorned her hair, face, and hands replacing the slim tiara and torq of office.


    The dark kohl surrounding her dark eyes now enhanced by tiny red and white flowers on decorative green vines drew his eyes in and struck him dumb as though he were the impala frozen by the gaze of a lioness.


    Her smile dropped at his tone. ¡°You will call me Amunet!¡± she hissed. ¡°You are my personal guard captain and you must obey me!¡±


    His eyes stayed on her intent face, though it was a battle with the plunging vee of her neckline that sought to force his eyes to her bare cleavage.


    ¡°Aamunet,¡± he said softly, tightly, fully in control. ¡°I will enjoy your party. I hope there is amurd wine.¡±


    Thankfully she relented with a giggle and swept past him, the swirling skirt of her bright red dress trailing behind her, along with that alluring scent that seemed to shut down his brain and make bugs crawl in his gut.


    Back in the King''s Audience Hall, Kiilaq stood behind and to her left as she greeted guests, mind open to the godworld, searching the thoughts and intent of each man as he took her hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed the back of it. Her birthday gave them unprecedented access to do such. Out of duty, she had allowed all the bachelors her mother desired to attend upon her, but there were so many, she could hardly save a dance for them all. The receiving line took up two hours. Near the end of the river of unmarried noble sons came the Were Shark King of Great Shark. His red robe and cloth of gold overtunic matched the princess'' attire perfectly, as though planned. An endless shiver of golden sharks circled his crown, sparkling with diamond eyes.


    ¡°It is an honor to finally meet such an outstanding woman,¡± he murmured looking directly into her eyes. He brushed his lips against the back of her hand then straightened. ¡°I and all my kingdom stand at your service.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aamunet said with a bright smile. She paused, perhaps captured by his black eyes and smiling face.


    ¡°I wish you health and long life on this and every day. I pray to the gods old and new for your safety in your important duties,¡± the Shark King said.


    Aamunet nodded and held out her hand for the next man. She glanced at the Were Shark King''s back. His cloth of gold could hardly disappear into the crowd.


    Death, what do you know of the King of Great Shark? Kiilaq quickly started his standard vetting process of someone who looked likely to get close to his Principal.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Finish up there and get her up to the dais. Our King bears news, came Dethar''s mental answer.


    ¡°My Princess, your cousin wishes to make an announcement,¡± Kiilaq stepped forward, neatly injecting his body in front of the last men. He held his arm out toward the dais where the Were Jaguar King stood.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she agreed, relieved and already moving toward Aamankhotep. The ten men in the line behind her huffed in annoyance but knew better than to protest openly.


    The Princess trotted up the dais stairs breathing deeply. At the top she squared her slim shoulders and turned to face her cousin as well as the packed hall with a radiant smile.


    Aamankhotep reached down and took her hand in a rare show of public familial affection. His pregnant wives sat halfway down the wide dais steps on plush chairs, but that never stopped the rumors about the cousins'' affection.


    ¡°For your first present at your birthday,¡± Aamankhotep filled the hall with his voice, ¡°let me tell you that your father, General Nnngozi has returned this very hour, victorious! Jjumoke is safe and well, and Ardjia has ten more star ships!¡± He raised her hand triumphantly while a roar of approval shook the walls.


    Aamunet''s smile became a grimace as she fought back tears of relief for her father and her cousin, Jjumoke, and all the warriors who had to fly away from Ardjia. She had held her emotions in check for so long, worried over her father first when he left Ardjia for Taproot, and then when he left Taproot to quell the betrayal at Kold Ring.


    ¡°Thank the gods and goddesses! Is he coming here? Tonight?¡± she asked, once more hope lighting her expression.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aamankhotep smiled down at her. ¡°He will land here soon.¡±


    ¡°Then let us party!¡± she cried to the mass of men. They roared again enthusiastically and the dancing commenced. Her female friends, relatives, and maids shared in the bounty of dance partners.


    *


    Aamankhotep took Aamunet''s first dance twirling her expertly around and around to the drum and wooden flute music provided by his harem, then handed her off to the gaudily dressed Shark King. He suddenly regretted purposely exhausting himself by giving so much ka this day while holding court and checking over the priests and his court''s decisions, all the while worrying over Rohjer''s disappearance like one runs one''s tongue over a painful rotten tooth endlessly and uselessly. The budding space program was his, since Rohjer was not here to push it along. So too most all of Rohjer''s other duties. He let Kaff, Rogard, and Luxerxes do what they would, but then checked over everything they accomplished. The Red Star temple''s growth fell to him though it was Rohjer''s purview. Aamankhotep had to run the entire continent now as well as keep tabs on his Golden Valley court and their shenanigans. He fielded so many marriage requests every day and not just for Aamunet''s hand, but Kings still sent their daughters, hoping he would take a Third Wife and/or Rohjer might take a Second after Zahra, to whom he was merely handfasted, not yet properly betrothed. Their were marriages to be approved or rejected from all the regions, and he had to carefully consider each objection presented to him by his politically motivated court.


    ¡°I am coming to wish Princess Amunet a happy day,¡± God Emperor''s voice suddenly blanketed Aamankhotep''s mind.


    ¡°Father!¡± Aamankhotep said, surprised. ¡°She will be well pleased,¡± he managed politely, shaken to the core by his suspicions that this man, his own father must somehow be behind Rohjer''s disappearance.


    He suddenly wished that Jumoke had not increased the speed and efficiency of air car engines to cut the transoceanic flight time to a mere four hours. The party was sure to be in full swing still.


    ¡°Akil,¡± Aamankhotep snapped to his Chief Vizier, then nodded to his childhood friend Chatulaka to approach. ¡°Have Ubaid send me blood slaves. Now.¡±


    Chatulaka lifted his wrist to his King and Aamankhotep took it, slicing into the flesh with a sharp stab of ka, then drinking deeply and swiftly of his friends life''s energy. Chatulaka staggered away, drained, but uplifted emotionally and spiritually by the exchange, just as the first blood slave arrived and neatly slit his own wrist with a knife then offered it forward to the Were Jaguar King.


    Aamankhotep did not tell anyone but Dethar that his father was on the way. He saw no reason to ruin the happy atmosphere with anxiety. He affected relaxation, lounging back among the pillow packed throne sipping ka from blood slaves along with wine from a golden goblet, but his blood red eyes glowed with pain and irritation.

 Chapter 8 The Arrival of Ngozi

    Their travel time cut down by months, Ngozi still maintained a communication black out to keep the Identic ignorant of his movements and the fact that he now knew the shortcut back to Ardjia from Kold Ring. It did not help. They were set upon as soon as they exited the Sejani anastomosis into Parare space. His ka blind captains pushed their ships at full FTL speed toward the Trinitron anastomosis, but doing so put him in the path of a major military patrol.


    More fool they, in addition to the troop transport he picked up in Sejani space, General Ngozi and his ka blessed warriors picked up half the patrol as soon as they came close enough to be overwhelmed in the godworld. Twenty ships of a class to guard the heart of the Identic, Parare, now belonged to Ardjia, now were part of Ngozi''s space navy.


    No ships followed through the Trinitron jump to Ardjia space.


    ¡°Father Brother Ngozi!¡± Jumoke called cheerfully, nearly bouncing with excitement after the anastomosis engines disengaged and the ships continued the journey on FTL engines.


    ¡°Eh?¡± Ngozi growled. The itchy ka of the Tattva Sanga woman seemed to reach around the soothing familial ka of his brother''s genius son.


    ¡°Don''t be so glum Uncle!¡± Jumoke cried. He and the girl sat down by him at the conference table in the meeting room Ngozi had commandeered for an office. ¡°You return victorious with so many captured ships and knowledge not only of the Identic technology, but also with so many nice slave crews to help us do everything correctly in very fast time! And, you do this on your daughter''s birthday!¡± Jumoke grinned at Ngozi''s blank look.


    ¡°Oh! Really?¡± the General asked absently.


    ¡°Yes! Now Maina can see how an unmarried princess celebrates her birth!¡±


    Both men chuckled then Ngozi rumbled, ¡°The list was over a hundred when we left.¡±


    ¡°A hundred what?¡± Maina asked, perplexed.


    ¡°Amunet''s mother''s list of eligible bachelors invited to woo her.¡± Ngozi grinned like someone who has a secret.


    ¡°It must be nearer two hundred by now,¡± Jumoke chuckled.


    Maina''s dark eyes were mortified. ¡°Two hundred suitors? For her hand in marriage?¡±


    Ngozi hit a button and a holographic monitor appeared shimmering in the air before him, above the table. His huge fingers poked around a bit before he got connected to Captain Tegrit of the destoyer IAPV Lymik ( Identic Assembly Peacekeeping Vessel), now Ngozi''s personal command ship.


    ¡°Tegrit! Land us at the Golden Valley airport quick as you can,¡± Ngozi ordered.


    ¡°Ah! General Ngozi! We are receiving hails from Ardjia and I was just about to contact you. Would you like me to send them to you there?¡± Tegrit''s pleasant baritone sounded from his image on the monitor.


    ¡°No, I''ll come out to you,¡± Ngozi returned. ¡°Come on then, Brother Son. Help me greet our God Emperor will you?¡±


    Jumoke blinked then they both turned to regard Maina who gave off a blast of sudden fear. Ngozi never tired of the taste of it. He swallowed. The girl was with his nephew and he was old enough to be her father. He sighed and they all rose and exited the room onto the Lymik''s bridge. Jumoke took Maina''s hand.


    The PPI showed the green pips of his arriving ships in one corner toward the floor. Upwards were two round balls, the large blue green marble of Ardjia and her small grey moon. Darker green pips identified the ships on them. Ardjia Orbital One and Two left the surface of Ardjia to service station to station vessels like the two Explorers. Ardjia''s Gift sat in the Golden Valley and Ardjia''s Glory sat at River Mouth. That Syndicate boy''s flitter even showed as a tiny grey pip, the civilian flitter, Zephyr at the Golden Valley air port.


    ¡°Standing by for God Emperor Ttttutmosen,¡± Comm Officer Tanley announced. Everyone stiffened in response.


    ¡°Main screen,¡± Captain Tegrit ordered and the image of an Imperial Guard in red leather appeared larger than life above and to the bow.


    ¡°Ngozi, my Second Wife Brother, please attend me at River Mouth and tell me of your glorious victories.¡± Ttttutmosen''s black eyes shone red and hard.


    ¡°God Emperor!¡± Ngozi dropped to his knees and touched his head to the floor. At his mental command, all aboard the bridge slid out of their seats and did likewise. He rose quickly and said, ¡°Today is the twentieth birth anniversary of my daughter Amunet. Even now she meets many many young men with only my wife and your Second Son to take care. I will go there first with this ship. You may see the many others your army took from the Identic and Syndicate betrayers.¡±


    Ngozi could not hide his shock. The Treaty broken? Were dragons attacking the Mainland? Madness!


    ¡°Jumoke, it is good to see you well,¡± Ttttutmosen said, looking over the bridge.


    ¡°Thank you God Emperor,¡± Jumoke said in a small voice. He too was horrified at the news of open conflict with Cloudbank. The were dragons were the only force that could challenge the ka of the Aaaamankhotep Dynasty and their firm grip on the Throne of Ardjia.


    ¡°Rohjer Doss is missing?¡± Maina cried in alarm then opened her mind to the otherwhere searching for her spiritual Tattva Sanga brother. She shuddered as Ttttutmosen''s darkness suddenly invaded her mind, and quickly brought up her mental shields again.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the God Emperor drawled. ¡°My son let him go off to the North by himself. He did not return.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Of course, my God Emperor!¡± Ngozi snapped with a crisp nod of agreement.


    ¡°Good to be home!¡± Ngozi declared as he exited the Lymik. Jumoke and Maina strode along with him and his personal guard of twenty and headed for the waiting ground cars.


    ¡°Daddy! Come save me from all these stupid men!¡± he heard in his mind halfway to their destination.


    ¡°Do you truly need saving?¡± he replied in an amused mental tone.


    ¡°No, I had to send Pale Strongclaw to bed lest she start breaking the necks of the ones I think to be boors.¡± Amunet confided in a happy voice.


    ¡°Does your bear not dance to Ardjiani drums?¡± he asked.


    ¡°IEEEEEE!¡± Ngozi recognized his daughter''s squeal. She remained favorable to him when his other wives turned their daughters against him, disparaging his sexual appetite while spending the gold he earned as the Throne''s Scythe.


    ¡°It is joyous simply to breathe the clean air of Ardjia!¡± he replied. ¡°Though your birth anniversary makes a mighty fine welcome home.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I heard the Lightfall is taken. Fear not, little jaguar,¡± he took Aamankhotep into his arms. ¡°We will find your lost tiger. We have many new ships and many ways of tracking him!¡±


    ¡°Yes, now that you have returned,¡± Aamankhotep said, his voice hoarse at this late hour, ¡°we can begin pursuit.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well,¡± Ngozi stammered unhappily. ¡°Your father arrives soon.¡± He did not want to speak openly and thus spoke mind to mind.


    ¡°Yes, I know. He lands in minutes. I need to go greet him.¡±


    ¡°No. Wait for him to summon you. He wants me first.¡± Ngozi hesitated until Aamankhotep focused on him tightly. ¡°To plan strategy for Cloudbank''s attack on the Mainland.¡±


    ¡°What! When did this happen?¡± Aamankhotep''s burning red eyes now widened in anxiety.


    ¡°It happens now, but do not worry. You will not be involved. Ttttutmosen stirred them up while traveling there. This is a Mainland concern. You will rule your Highland and keep Amunet safe. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Does she even notice?¡± Ngozi''s voice sounded in his mind.


    ¡°I do not know... yet I can only think that she must.¡±


    Aamankhotep wanted to join the meeting but by the time he finally finished with Amunet''s party, they were headed to their ships. So, he escorted his cousin back to her small mansion and pretended not to notice her Guard Captain''s hand on her back to steady her after she stumbled.


    The early morning air chilled his face but also felt refreshing after the close crowd of the party and the dark presence of his father in such physical proximity. He chose to walk with Dethar back to his Den and discuss developments. The Blood Star, low in the sky, bathed them both in red light.

 Chapter 9 The Orders of Ttttutmosen

    Ttttutmosen (pronounced Tuuut MO sen) felt the moment that Ngozi returned to Ardjiani space. He felt everything that occurred and everyone that moved within the godworld, so deeply was his mind immersed in it, so powerful was his own ka. He had tried to instill in both his sons especially, but in all of his children, the knowledge that power is everything to Ardjia. For a time it appeared that his First Son Hhhamanhotep understood, but then he became addicted to women and drink. His Second Son had a politician''s grasp of power, but he was too addicted to approval, first from his mother and grandmother and now from the Sunset Highland sheep who supplied him blood ka.


    It hardly mattered that neither were ambitious for the Throne, Ttttutmosen had no plans to give it up, ever.


    There appeared his Second Wife''s Brother, shining like a small blood red beacon on a dark night, far away but approaching quickly, the ka of his general and his warriors. He combed ka fingers through their many minds.


    What? Ttttutmosen ranted inwardly. They dare attack us? They lied! Treason and treachery! The cool deep ocean of his mind began to quake and foam with turmoil. A thousand sheut voices echoed his words. Treason! Treachery! Death!The shadows of dead emperors and their families, servants, and slaves beaten into submission and forced to agreement by the strength of his ka, were so unlike the kings of Cloudbank who even now sailed seagoing ships across the Blue Ocean toward Sparidae, Fleetfish, and Ray. This three pronged attack left their own homefront unprotected but Ttttutmosen had to protect his entire northern coast to prevent them from striking inland and meeting at his Throne in River Mouth.


    Providence had sent Ngozi back in time, but where the ka was General Mumuya? Ttttutmosen froze in shock once he learned the fate of Ardjia Miner One.


    That thrice ka damned Doss slave told the truth! The Syndicate possesses weapons superior to Ardjia''s ka warriors. How can this be? An entire ship and Mumuya and his personal guard just gone? And the ruthlessness to use it to destroy their own valuable space mining resource... but the whole treaty thing had been a ruse... they intended this from the start in order to use it as a pretext to seize control of Ardjia space from me!


    Ttttutmosen tossed the drained body of his latest blood slave to the floor and strode out of his study and down long hallways to his Imperial Guard communication center. The red clad men snapped to attention or bowed down low as their rank and current duty dictated.


    ¡°Call to General Ngozi,¡± he ordered. ¡°He has just come through the Door to Heaven.¡±


    The guard on duty at the extra-Ardjia monitoring station snapped to with consternation and then with trepidation reported, ¡°Uh, he is out of this machine''s poor communication range, my God Emperor. But he will be close enough soon.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± Ttttutmosen added the datum to his many thoughts. ¡°Where shall I sit so that we can see each other when you contact him?¡±


    ¡°This way God Emperor!¡± an enthusiastic guard waved him into the adjoining parlor.


    He refused further service and considered new plans for dealing with Cloudbank, adding Ngozi and the many ships he brought into his calculations. After he stopped the three main attacks, he could push back and attack Cloudbank itself.


    Shall we simply take their heart in Lonom or attack them in three places? Lonom, Shagach, and Ganjagoleh gives us their heart, stomach, and mysteries which we very much desire. But the dragons will fight tooth and nail for their homeland and many of our warriors will go to the planet of golden streets.


    We yet are confounded by their dragon ka though we have learned to utilize our own king cobra ka. Ngozi is good, the best, yet he is as a child against an eight hundred year old were dragon. And what of the Identics? Do they race here even now to bomb us with their horrid killing weapons? After we take Cloudbank we can hold them off and continue to take the minds of their commanders.


    Ttttutmosen sighed. He could see no way to coerce the strong were dragon rulers of Cloudbank to join with him, to give him their allegiance as they should. With their might, he need not think of the Identics at all. He could send out the dragons to conquer them at Parare and beyond. If only they would obey his command!


    Finally the call came through and he faced his long time friend and most powerful general. The man''s determination to see his daughter gave him pause however and he was reminded of the man''s sullenness after he took the Throne. He had no idea the general was so attached to his mother. She was Empress and thus a fair target for anyone with power. It was an open secret that Ngozi''s mother had killed his father to take the Throne, why it bothered him to help Ttttutmosen do the same, he could not fathom.


    So. He let the man see to his daughter, but flew to Sunset Highland himself to evaluate his Second Son as well as to ensure Ngozi''s full focus on the battles ahead.


    The Were King Cobra felt most comfortable at the Pyramid of Hell in his Second Son''s little capital. While he waited for Ngozi''s presence, Ttttutmosen again opened his mind to the vastness of the godworld around Ardjia. The Cloudbank warships came nearer to the coast. Now that Ngozi was here with fast agile spaceships would their strategy of a pre-dawn attack change? He, like everyone not born a Midlander had trouble seeing the true import in a Cloudbanker''s thoughts, even when they shared them willingly. Of course right now, those thoughts were tightly closed to him.


    The three coastal cities evacuated as he had ordered, he perceived. The warriors he had deployed raced back to both the Seaside Home and River Mouth air ports, ready to board the landing spaceships. On board a fast ship of the air, they had much better maneuverability what to speak of the Identic weapons that Ttttutmosen was so eager to try out for himself!Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°Welcome back to Ardjia,¡± Ttttutmosen said once Ngozi touched his head to the floor in the grand hall of the Temple of Hell, Pyramid of Earth He spoke softly, unsuccessfully suppressing his usual menacing tone. His eyes burned with purpose.


    ¡°Thank you my God Emperor. And thank you for letting me see my daughter. She is well and sends you greetings.¡± Ngozi spoke softly too, out of pure weariness. He had been awake for too long, unaware that open conflict and not rest awaited him here at his home world. His eyes burned with fatigue and caution.


    ¡°Your ships are well armed with nasty killing weapons,¡± Ttttutmosen purred, unaware that he hissed.


    ¡°Your ships, my God Emperor!¡± Ngozi said. His consternation that Ttttutmosen had already evaluated the armaments was not lost on the God Emperor.


    ¡°I will fly back to River Mouth on your Lymik. We can fly over Sparidae then Fleetfish. Have your men oversee the action at Ray.¡±


    Ngozi obeyed and they flew over the Plentiful Ocean in the dark of night. He felt happiness in peering out a portal and seeing the familiar stars of Ardjia. Even the big red moon which they told him was a star comforted him though not long ago it had been so very much smaller.


    ¡°I want to save the bigger ships to defend Ardjia!¡± Ttttutmosen announced with impatience once he fully understood the PPI glowing on the Lymik''s bridge and realized that Ngozi intended to hurl his strongest ships nose first into the fierce angry might of the Were Dragon Kings of Cloudbank Midland. ¡°Did I not just explain to you that I defeated all eight of their kings?¡± Ttttutmosen growled. ¡°They will fight to the death and we will give it to them!¡±


    The multicolored carets began moving within the PPI. Orbital One and Two began a descent toward Sparidae.


    ¡°But no, my God Emperor! You send ships in to battle that have no weaponry!¡± Ngozi cried. This was madness! How did one explain proper strategy to one who had no inkling of three dimensional battle? Ttttutmosen refused to let the ka blind captains contribute to the planning session during their journey from the Highland, even though Ngozi pointed out that these men had been on these ships as long as Ngozi had been taking slaves for the Throne. Ttttutmosen dismissed the suggestion because ka blind aliens knew nothing of Ardjia and the ka stratagems of godworld fighting. No one knew the might and minds of the Were Dragon Kings.


    ¡°But...¡± Ngozi trailed off in disbelief, watching the entire order of battle disintegrate within the PPI. He was helpless to stop Ttttutmosen''s control of the Identic ships in the godworld and helpless to reason with a ruler who constantly conspired but never led from the front of an army.


    The larger ships that he had sent toward the three coastal cities, pulled back toward the Lymik and gained altitude while the civilian class yachts dispersed to the cities in their stead. Solar Thunder to Fleetfish, Star Rise to Ray. The explorer, Bloody Skull also flew toward Ray. Then the three ships that remained of Task Force Ringmaster were sent to the three cities, the very ships his ka warriors had defeated.


    True, he, the God Emperor, and their warriors were now protecting these ships, but, he could not hold his tongue.


    ¡°They are not true warships like this one, the frigate, and the corvettes!¡±


    ¡°Have faith!¡± Ttttutmosen cried at his General.


    The sun rose in the east, the direction of Sunrise Lowland and battle began with fire. Despite their defensive ka shells of protection nested around the ships, Orbital Two exploded. The Midland warriors had found some chink, some way through, either to blow up the engine themselves or to coerce a ka blind crewmember into it.


    Surprised, Ttttutmosen sat back and watched as the caret turned black.


    ¡°I implore you, my God Emperor! Let us use this ship''s weapons of fire in retaliation!¡± Ngozi pleaded his eyes red with distress and anger that the little ship and the good people aboard it were lost so uselessly, so recklessly.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Ttttutmosen grunted. Staring at the PPI, he opened his godmind to view the battle field. The Midlanders were still bunched in the three cities. No further plan had been revealed yet.


    Orbital Miner One began a dive toward Sparidae. As meaning clarified the hairs on Ngozi''s arms stood on end. ¡°Please!¡± he shouted, praying he was wrong in his understanding. ¡°Use the mining weapon! It is a ray of such power to slice through rock!¡±


    The green dots near Fleetfish and Ray began to descend much too fast toward the spreading red on the ground.


    Like a child smashing an insect with a hammer, Ttttutmosen hurled his ships down onto the ground where the terrific force of impact as well as secondary fuel explosions tore through Midlander bodies and leveled the Mainland cities. He aimed for the center of each mass of moving Midland Warriors and missed a few who had landed first and traveled fastest.


    ¡°Have I not fought every battle for you?¡± Ngozi cried as the Ringmaster ships began to descend, along with the Bloody Skull. All the gifted ships wiped out in minutes.


    ¡°You have, my General. But watch and learn what real power can do!¡± God Emperor Ttttutmosen retorted.


    Silence and fear whirled around the Lymik''s bridge. The destruction of the cities which a column of monitor screens showed from telephoto images appalled Ngozi. Is this what Ttttutmosen intended for all of Ardjia? That it burn and become lifeless in his greed for absolute power?


    ¡°That ought to keep them from our shores now!¡± Ttttutmosen said cheerfully.


    Now that there is no shore to come to, Ngozi allowed himself the thought in his most private mind.

 Chapter 10 The Message of Rohjer

    That was well done! Nimrabidkbir praised him in his mind.


    Rohjer staggered down the corridor, blood streaming down the back of both thighs. Not his blood. Images replayed in flashes before his mind''s eye as he shuddered and struggled to breath past the adrenalin crash. He spit again, the red tinged saliva and mucus mixture making a loud wet splat on the ship''s decking. His eyes wanted to draw his mind into The Here and The Now, to analyze the various components of that glob of spit, to pull him away from the horror of his own recent actions.


    ¡°Control room, control room,¡± he muttered. His focus threatened to diffuse into the dark recesses of the recent past. ¡°Here and now.¡± Spitting again, the taste in his mouth of sweat, flesh, semen, and blood threatened to make him nauseous. He had to be quiet, so he could not vomit just yet. He could stand the feel of the other inside of him no longer. After another fumbling step he came to rest against the wall. He had to stop blundering around before he woke the others and find the fucking comm unit!


    Rohjer bent forward, hands on the knees of his spread legs. He took a deep breath that tasted of death and pushed to expel the piece of bloody flesh. It hit the deck with a wet plop. Rohjer hissed at the pain and began moving forward again. He had pretended to be willing when they brought him a meal, the two lesser guards. The ringleader was a different story, Rohjer knew, not so easily taken in by subterfuge. So he had to act while with them. He did not have to pretend to miss Aamankhotep.


    Lying on his side, rubbing at his groin, sighing.


    ¡°Whoa ho ho! What''s this? Getting looooonely in here, eh?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Shetzer said no talking.¡±


    ¡°Look at his dick! He''s missing his princeling.¡±


    ¡°My King!¡± Rohjer cried in indignation. ¡°You wouldn''t understand!¡±


    ¡°Give him his food and go. No talking.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Eat! We wouldn''t understand how the King fucked your sweet little Tattva Sanga ass.¡±


    Rohjer took a drink of water. ¡°You know nothing of his power.¡±


    ¡°We have shakti!¡±


    Rohjer snorted while chewing a tasteless protein slab. ¡°Yes, he fucked me. But we danced in his dark shakti, with his harem. He is coming for me. Yes, I miss his cock.¡± Rohjer''s hand returned to his groin, his thumb moved hypnotically back and forth over his slit. From within the confines of the null collar, he forced glistening precome up his shaft, enough to wet his trousers and flash in the light with his movements.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do while he fucks you?¡± the heavily scarred one asked once they both started panting.


    ¡°Are the others asleep?¡± Rohjer asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Take my mouth... like Tariq of the harem. Please.¡± Rohjer begged, filling his voice with the longing he truly felt, to be back in Aamankhotep''s arms. ¡°I want to forget this place. Just forget everything.¡±


    Rohjer blinked back to awareness. He could not face anymore of his own memories... what he had done to those two souls once they entered his body, once they entered the confines of the null collar,.


    He sat in the copilot''s chair and studied the console for a moment then spoke. Blood tasted acrid on his tongue. It pulled at his lips and the skin of his jaw as it coagulated and became thick and tacky.


    ¡°I would like to send a transmission.¡±


    ¡°¡± a cold woman''s voice warned.


    ¡°Guest account?¡± Rohjer asked playfully.


    ¡°Granted,¡± the computer acquiesced.


    He pulled letters, numbers and words from his memory, hoping against hope they still worked. ¡°Input authorization code R D C L 1 9 3 4 Nebula Twicks Street Gyptos.¡±


    ¡°Guest account upgraded to full Administrative Rights, Sir.¡± The computer''s voice became considerably warmer.


    His Tattva Sanga back door had not been revoked. It would have been nearly impossible to remove it from existing ships at this point. However, new ships being built now, probably would not have his code implanted by the secret agreement with the Identic Assembly.


    ¡°Good,¡± he took a breath. ¡°Gather all present telemetry. Transmit Urgent Tattva Sanga Priority: Emergency to ''Eyes Only'' Deputy of Sunset Highland Aamankhotep. Planet Ardjia.¡±


    ¡°Transmission complete, Guest Admin.¡±


    ¡°Repeat hourly.¡±


    ¡°Command accepted, Guest Admin.¡±


    Now that he had accomplished his objective, what was the next priority?


    ¡°Record comm transmission to same address: King Aamankhotep ...¡± Rohjer looked to the tiny recording screen and noticed the dried blood on his chin. He did not look like himself. His eyes were sunken, grey, and surrounded by dark circles.


    ¡°Greetings Were Jaguar King. I hope this meets you in good health. And I hope... that I''ve sent enough that you can find me.¡±


    ¡°Monor! Why the frick is this alarm going off during my downtime?¡± The crew leader''s voice approached Rohjer from behind.


    His eyes turned big and round. ¡°Please find me!¡± he pleaded hoarsely at the tiny screen.


    ¡°Oi! What are you doing?¡± sounded very loud just behind him before a gun butt came down and Rohjer''s eyes rolled up as he slid out of the chair to the deck.


    ¡°What did he do?¡±


    ¡°How did he get up here?¡±


    ¡°Engine... navigation... enviro... comm... SHIT!¡±


    A hairy arm reached forward to the panel of controls in front of where Rohjer had just been sitting. The recording ended.