Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

Lost Hope

Her long red hairs were not combed properly; almond shaped green eyes were looking red and floppy due to non-stop weeping; her nose and cheeks were red too due to constant rubbing; her brown coloured long skirt was already muddy as she was not looking where her steps were falling, her cup sleeve white blouse was looking wrinkled and shoes were about to unstrap any time. Deodara had no care about her look or dress, she was running here and there; asking everyone about her four year old little boy with red hairs, green eyes, fleshy nose, chubby cheeks and cute face. She had no idea what he wore when he was lost.

Abjurenos was accompanying her and he too was looking dishevelled. When the innkeeper's nephew and nieces informed them that they were playing outside the inn and Deoes lost somehow, Abjurenos thought that he might be near the port. He went and returned alone. They looked for Deoes everywhere, even in the Black Alley where meat sellers give their stalls.

Two days passed and finally Abjurenos approached to the City Mayor, who was a big bellied man with a bald head surrounded by few red hairs. His droopy eyes and facial expression told him that the man was not about to do anything unless and until he bribed him. Abjurenos looked at the man with great detest; he was so fat that breeches could not fit him. He wore a long velvety cloth with red colour and his chest remained covered with a same coloured cloth; but his golden belt, large oval shaped earrings, armlets on pillar like arms and thick chain on his fleshy neck indicated his high station. Abjurenos recalled Oligarch Eyeball for a while, who almost had the same appearance.

"Mayor Alvin, I am from a faraway land..."

"And you have lost your son here? Oh, did not Terra Aquillaan have enough places to lose your son?" He asked insensitively. Abjurenos wanted to punch in his fleshy nose or on double chin; but controlled himself.

"Who has come with you and waiting outside my chamber? The pretty girl with red hairs? Mother of the boy? Your wife? Lucky man, but poor woman; she should marry a rich man like me, not to a vagabond like you."

It was enough to provoke Abjurenos. He wanted to unsheathe his sword, but thought 'I'll tear out his tongue later;' he brought out a sack full of gold coins and threw towards him, "Listen to me." He ordered coldly.

The man looked into those gold coins greedily and asked him to sit on a wooden stool.

"What is your son's name?" he asked in a high speech voice.

"Deoes," He replied and realised that he had told the real name, not the fake one.

"Does he have a surname or not?"

Abjurenos stopped to say Temosk; the boy was the last living heir of Eagle dynasty; how could he claim him as his own. However, he had to save the boy as well as to hide his identity.

"Temosk", he replied.

"Well, I'll tell the police to write a complaint letter, but we have a shortage of manpower. Thralls have revolted." He replied.

Abjurenos left Mayor's office and asked Deodara to follow him. She asked like a mad woman, "When I'll get my son?"

"He is trying." He replied, but it was a lie.

"Don't leave me..." Deodara said in a low voice, "everyone is leaving me." Abjurenos assured her.

Abjurenos no longer wanted to stay in Arfaza, but now he had no other way; Deodara would not leave the place unless and until she found her son. On the day of her son's disappearance, Arfaza was invaded by some alien forces. Foes came in winged chariot and freed all thralls from the execution ground of the Black Square. They left a message in the air, 'King of Mars'. It meant Ergonn's men were following them. He suspected that Ergonn might have done something. 'If Deoes dies, there will be no other claimant of the throne.' Abjurenos could not understand how he would be able to find the boy and claim his throne back.

Suddenly, Abjurenos thought that he might try to send a message to Deodara's father. Though the Overseas Communication office was not opened regularly due to the absence of thralls, but some sailors were carrying letters in exchange of good amount of money. However, the man should be trustworthy.

Abjurenos tried to find out Sailor Drekstar but knew that his ship had left the harbour on the fateful day of Deoes disappearance. To his surprise, he found out that the ship did not leave for Port Odena, but for Port Aquillon.

,m\mv