The Search Begins Volume 02 of An Unwanted Destiny

Fifty

The carriage pulled up to the front of the Council Chambers, which was the giant dome building I had seen from the hill overlooking the city. There was a tremendous uproar around the building as people who looked like generals rushed to and away from the dome while the sounds of battle were faint, as if nonexistent. A manservant appeared as we approached.

"Lord Sky the Council is waiting for you if you would follow me," the man said bowing before turning and heading inside.

I followed closely behind Sky as we were led through the halls and I saw many portraits of nine people on the walls and learned from Sky that these were the senior members of the Council.

"The Council is made up of three hundred men and women, a hundred for each of the districts in Togus. Those nine are they made up of those with the most years serving on the Council and are considered the speakers for the Council. They voice the opinions of the Council to me and bring back to them anything that I tell them. It will be with these nine that we will be meeting with," Sky explained as we arrived at a set of large doors with two guards on duty. The guards opened the doors as we neared and I could hear the sound of shouting.

"I thought we would only be meeting with nine of them?" I asked as I stared through the door and could see that the entire Council was full of everyone bickering back and forth.

"I did too," Sky said as he fixed his clothes before striding through the door towards the podium residing in the middle of the room. I followed him inside then stood off to the side. Sky stood with his hands behind his back until the room became quiet. I saw that the nine Speakers Sky was talking about were four women and five men all ranging in ages. The youngest looked to be in his late thirties, and the oldest was in her early sixties. They sat in the very first row of each section of the Council and stared down at Sky with hate.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Council, I am sure you know by now the letter that I received just a couple hours ago from Knight Yadre. I am sure that you know the contents of that letter as well," Sky said looking at the Speakers who nodded in agreement. "Then you know that the Ajemuha is among us as we speak."

I saw fear on the faces of some of the members sitting behind the Speakers as Sky mentioned Ajemuha confirming the rumor. One of the Speakers leaned forward, a man who looked to be in his late fifties, his black hair streaked with gray. His gray eyes looked passed Sky to me. I looked back at the man whose eyes suddenly grew wider as he must have figured out that I was the Ajemuha.

I felt a little uncomfortable with the man staring at me as if felt like a dagger would place itself in my back at any moment.

"Lord Sky I assume the man you brought with you there," the Speaker said pointing towards me, "is he the Ajemuha?"

"Yes he is Speaker Ragno," Sky said as the rest of the Council members and Speakers rose from their seats, backing away as quickly as they could but making sure it didn't look like they were fleeing.

"Guards arrest that man," Ragno pointed directly at a group of six guards who approached with their weapons at the ready towards me.

"Ragno what are you doing?" There was a hint of anger in his voice.

"If what you say is true than Knight Yadre will stop attacking us if we kill him and hang his corpse. Besides being free of the relentless attacks from the Madrians the city will be able to prosper as the whole world knows that Togus is the place where the Ajemuha was killed. We will have not only saved our city but saved the world as well. You all know what Edith told the world, he will destroy the world one day if he is allowed to live."

"You all are fools for believing in something written over ten thousand years ago! If you kill him based on what some old man told people, then you are no better than the Madrians outside our gates. They have attacked because their books tell them that people like me, who are not truly human, are evil and need to be eradicated!"

"Lord Sky step aside now, or you will be charged with treason to not just this city but to the whole world!" Ragno yelled.

I was ready to defend myself when Sky stepped in front of the guards.

"As ruler of Togus, I am ordering you all to stand down and return to your post."

The guards looked from Sky back to Ragno whose face was red with anger.

"Arrest both of them!" Ragno yelled his face completely red.

A guard lunged forward, but Sky delivered a right hook sending the man flying back into a wall. A few of the guards rushed to their comrade then backed away.

"Sky Lahandro what are you doing?"

"As I said before if you believe that he is evil just because something is written by a man over ten thousand years ago you are no better than the Madrians! Everyone in this city knows of the curse laid upon my family at the formation of the city. They are accepting because they know that despite what the books say not everything is just black and white. I have many books in the family library from the previous eras that all have their own destroyer.

"During the time of the Dragon Emperor, many people believed the Emperor himself was a destroyer. Everyone thought that it was only a matter of time before the world ended. During the Baronofi Era, there were three different prophecies. Each had their own destroyer. In the Creation Era, there were countless prophecies from different parts of the world that each had their own destroyer as well. So who is to say that in another thousand years we won't enter a new era where there is someone else who proclaims that there will be another destroyer?"

"We do not care about past or whatever might be," Ragno said his voice trembling with anger. "At this moment in time he is the destroyer, and we will not let him leave this building alive. Guards kill him where he stands! Whoever refuses my orders will be killed for treason!"

Sky was ready to strike, but I placed a hand on his shoulder shaking my head. "It is alright Sky. It's not your fault. I know that this is how my life is going to be as long as the Ajemuha is feared. These guards will be no match for me anyway. I will escape from here gather my things and kill the Knight out there. Hopefully, then you will be able to defeat the Madrians."

"Do you think that it will be that easy?"

"Of course," I said rushing towards the guards. "He will be the fifth Knight to die by my hands."

Before I could take two steps, three figures landed in a crouch in my path. Their backs were to me, but I still knew who they were, Xerin. The three Xerin rose to their feet holding their swords before them.

"You three who are you?" Ragno asked as he seemed to be even more flustered.

"We know the truth about the Ajemuha. He is not the destroyer but our savior. He will save us all from the apocalypse," one of the Xerin said in sultry female voice.

"That is preposterous!" Ragno yelled. "Guards kill those three, the Ajemuha and Lord Sky this very instant!"

"Ajemuha please flee. We will take care of these guards."

I nodded and fled out the doors just as the fighting began. I was halfway out of the Council Chambers when I encountered a dozen guards in the main hall. I clenched my fists and rushed forward to strike when someone else rushed the guards. Within seconds all twelve were on the ground. I looked at the man and saw that it was Sky who shook his head at his men as they rolled on the ground moaning in pain.

"Sky, why did you do that?"

"Like I told the Council if we simply killed you based on the writings of a man long dead we would be no better than the Madrians. You felt comfortable to tell me back in my office about who you were. I cannot repay that trust by letting you get hurt or killed."

"Thank you, Sky, but I can assure you that I could have handled all of them," I said smiling.

"Sure you could," Sky said smiling back. "Now let's move on before more arrive."

"Lead the way."