Without another word, the guards drag the three of us down the hallway, and I start to lose sensation in my arms from their unrelenting grip. We're hurriedly marched away to some unknown, unspoken destination, uncertain what fate awaits us. Curiously, it is only Walumaq, the one endowed with supernatural powers, who seems rattled by our predicament, eyes wide and breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Deep down, I should've known better. I should've known this was a ludicrous plan, to sneak into the palace like thieves and assume we could get all the answers we needed in the span of a night, without any real direction or starting point. Did I honestly expect us to have some miraculous revelation the moment we stepped foot inside the palace? How could I let Pomaqli, some stranger, sway me so easily? Was he exploiting my eagerness to uncover the truth behind Limaqumtlia's murder, and had I naïvely fallen for his ruse?
No, that doesn't seem like his particular way of operating. The emotionless warrior is well-trusted by Qumuna, a man I highly respect. Unless he's plotted something several steps ahead of what I could possibly conceive, there's no reason he would endanger himself and risk serving a punishment that would prevent him from continuing to serve the people of Qiapu. I recognize that I'm upset at our situation, getting caught by some sneering, slithering sycophant. Though he's unfamiliar to me, he's left no room for getting into my good graces with his introduction. Sure, we may have happened to trespass onto palace grounds, but where does he come off, right?
We take a rapid turn around a corner and I instantly know where we're headed, somewhat relieved. Had we gone the other way, I would be certain the three of us would be placed in chains in the prison located deep within the chasm of the palace. Instead, our destination is the throne room, likely to be confronted by Saxina himself. My only solace is believing we can negotiate our way out of any harsh repercussions, regardless of the state I left our relationship in during my last visit. My hope is that he will forego anything dire due to the presence of the Sanqo princess in our company, believing—half-heartedly, I admit—he will resort to diplomacy in this instance.
The stifling, choking confines of the chamber mirrors the oppressive atmosphere thick with tension, and despite the night's chill, sweat beads on my skin. We're thrust to the ground, each of us reacting in our own way: Walumaq offers a quiet whimper, Pomaqli launches a futile struggle against our captors, and in the midst of it all, I find myself overcome by incredulous laughter at the absurdity of our predicament. For my trouble, I receive a swift punch to the side of my head, my ears ringing from the blow while my jaw clenches in response to the searing pain.
Flanked by a half dozen or so guards, Saxina enters the throne room with a loud yawn. His outfit has clearly been hurriedly thrown together for him: wearing no tunic nor headpiece, all that's worn is a long, red and white cape and a plain, white loin cloth.
"I see you've dressed up for the occasion," I say, rewarded with another abrupt thump to my skull.
"At first, I couldn't believe I was being awoken out of my peaceful slumber for a couple of intruders," Saxina says, his voice sounding tired and hoarse. "When I found out dear Paxilche was one of the trespassers, I had to see for myself. Incredible!"
"Enough with the fake formalities," I snap. Perhaps I'm exhausted, or I'm reminded of all of Saxina's bloviating, but I just don't want to hear any of it right now. I want to know what he plans to do with us and get this interaction over with. "You've caught us, so we are at your mercy, if you care to indulge us with what our consequences shall be."
"Paxilche," he says with mock disappointment, "that would be too easy! Too quick. You haven't yet introduced me to your accomplices, although that one–" he points to Pomaqli," is certainly one I recall. Aren't you supposed to be in Qumuna's military detail? You returned all this way to be thrown into the cells with this one?" He punctuates the end of his sentence by indicating me with a lazy wave of the hand.
YOU ARE READING
Revolutions
FantasyAt long last, the oppressive rule of the titans has ended. We are finally free, thanks to the sacrifice of The Eleven, who unified a fractured land and used their supernatural powers to defeat the Timuaq. There are many like myself who have only kno...
