Shadow Bands

XIV. New Moon

Kogeer's gates loomed over their heads, bringing awe to the surviving Lycans at the ingenuity of the humans. In front of them stood two towering buildings, parallel with each other and lined with narrow windows. A sky bridge and heavy metal gates with industrial chains on tracks connected the two buildings. The chains seemed to be connected to a blocky hunk of metal that hummed. Next to them were two guards. Their armor was still polished, and without their helmets, they seemed young.

Kaelen looked at Lyra, who was staring at his bewildered expression. He watched as a smile crept over her face, her expression somewhat prideful.

Aeris approached the gate ahead of the crowd. A guard walked across the sky bridge above and hailed them, but with a slight aggression as he observed the survivors. His helmet did not allow a facial identification or expression. Only the colors of blue and yellow were of any significance. Unlike the other guards, wear and tear scuffed his armor.

"I am Aeris Veil," she shouted. "Returning from my diplomatic outing to the Kingdom of Lycra." The words were sour in her mouth.

Aeris held up her seal to the guard. The stare was long before he nodded at the two guards. The new guards struggled at first but eventually pulled the long levers that protruded from the humming blocks of steel. Promptly, the shape of gears spun, pulling on the chains and allowing the gate to roll on its tracks, opening Kogeer to them.

Their victory was short-lived as the guard above stopped the Lycans before they stepped foot in the kingdom.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Shouted Aeris.

"Unauthorized entry to citizens from a different country," the guard shouted from above. "Executive order has prohibited the gratuitous entry from the outside."

"Elderlore passed this order?"

The guard's silence made Aeris' question seem rhetorical. Her feet paced slowly as her shoulders slouched forward. Lyra approached her, and after weaving through the crowd, Kaelen and his mother followed in her footsteps.

"Aeris," said Lyra. "What's going on?"

But Aeris, lost deep in thought, ignored Lyra's concern. Lyra watched as she pieced the equation in her head, her eyes brightening like a light bulb.

"I insist on an immediate change to the order!"

The guard's helmet pivoted to one tower, as if he was getting reassured his next words would be right.

"I'm afraid we will deny your request."

"By whom?" Aeris hurled her words like a trebuchet launching a projectile. "According to the statute E.1-9864221 ratified by Senator Bathal during the Golden Era of Kogeer, all who seek refuge or solace within these walls, who are allies of Kogeer, are welcome without prejudice or persecution of their, or any, background."

Aeris' chest heaved as she ran a marathon; that was the kingdom's code. Her cheeks flushed with red, her eyes focused on the task at hand. Her hands balled as the silence drew out her anxiousness. For what it was worth, Lyra stood by her like a stone wall—resolute.

Another guard exited a tower. The color on his armor was the same; however, the patterns were different, more intricate. His weathered medals, etched with the passage of time and battles, spoke volumes of his dedicated service. His helmet, feathered down the middle, rested at his hip with an arm securing it.

He approached the other guard and looked at the crowd that had gathered beneath him. The sun beamed off his reflective dome of a head. A blue eye paired with a scarred white one, a scar lined across his forehead before it took a sharp turn down his brow and cheekbone. He tightly pursed his lips, as if he had never smiled in his entire life.