Endless Horizons Sagas - Season One - World Without End

episode four - The World's Matriarch

The chains were too tight. She fought desperately to free the hooks from Metallo as he pleaded with her to hurry. Each time the gears were turned by Potentate Asonic, the chains tightened, and the hooks ripped into Metallo's flesh. He screamed in pain as Asonic laughed.

"You're next, Janali," he said in that smooth calm voice of his that had no care for anyone but himself in it.

The Potentate leaned into the wheel that moved the gearing and was as large as him. Metallo's scream shattered her mind, her own roaring scream merging with his.

Janali gave up trying to free Metallo, realizing she should have attacked the Potentate. Turning, she ran to leap off the oversized table at Potentate Asonic, her hands forming claws. She was plucked from the air by hundreds of blue robed priests and slammed back onto a platform next to Metallo. The priests' fingernails dug into her flesh like hooks. She couldn't move as their hands turned into iron shackles, digging into the table's surface.

She rolled back and forth trying to break their hold. More hands grabbed her. It was dark, and she couldn't see. She screamed louder, fighting for her freedom.

"JANALI, STOP! YOU'RE SAFE!" The authoritative female voice cut through her fear.

The hands holding her were not cold or digging into her, and she was on a soft warm cushion. It was still dark, but she realized her head was covered with some kind of smooth cloth. She stopped struggling and breathed hard, trying to understand where she was. The air was filled with the soft scents of cedar and roses. Soft light came through the cloth over her head, her arms and legs were exposed to cooler air, but a light, uneven weight pressed down on her torso.

"Janali, we are going to let go. Hold still. You're safe." The female voice was oddly familiar, well-spoken, soft and reassuring.

A number of voices murmured as hands slowly released her, leaving behind small pains from the strong grips. There was a recurring chuck-chuck sound, and she was being gently rocked back and forth as whatever she was in moved. Then, the sheet was pulled out from behind her head, and a soft, golden red light blinded her for a moment.

When her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized she was in a gilded room, lying in a four post bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed and facing her was Empress Alsenna Ventali, Matriarch of the World. She wore a simple wrap with her hair free, allowing the feather to drape across her diamond shaped face.

"Your Majesty!" Janali tried to scramble out of bed. She didn't know how she'd gotten there, but she was sure she was committing high treason by lying in the Empress's bed. For some reason, her muscles barely responded, and instead of scrambling, she flopped out of the bed like a fish caught on the rocks. Her legs were barely responsive, and her arms felt like lead weights had been tied to her.

Two ladies leapt in to catch her, and the Empress grabbed her by the waist, trying to pull her back into the bed. The struggle brought back her dream and with that, came the fact she had to help Metallo, and she resisted their efforts. "I have to get to Metallo!" she cried, the memory of the broken man bleeding before her. Tears rolled down her cheek and her thick heavy limbs refused to obey. Still, she fought. She couldn't leave him, or anyone else she was responsible for, alone again.

Her body began to shiver, and suddenly, her muscles were alive with fire. She screamed as her body went rigid. Another lady and a man joined the struggle to hold her in the bed as the Empress grabbed her arm, pulling her around to face the Empress.

"Lady, breathe, try to be calm, or you'll have another fit," a gray haired woman said, as she struggled with the rest to get Janali back into the bed.

"Janali, it's okay. Metallo is with us. He's alive and recovering," the Empress said, trying to sooth her mind. "My own daughter is watching over him."