Dealing With Consequences

Chapter 9

The guard retreated at an arch opening into that familiar giant throne room. T'ranthiom glanced hesitantly down at Amara. He hoped she had the energy to stand by herself. If she showed any weakness to a Baya, he would prey upon it. He couldn't have the Baya taking control of such a valuable asset.

He reluctantly pulled his arm away and sighed in relief when she stood sturdy on her feet. She looked up into T'ranthiom's eyes and he tensed under her helpless stare. She was terrified and silently pleading for help. He clenched his fists praying to have the strength to stay indifferent or he may do something he would later regret. 

He pushed her gently forward and into the massive room. The only sounds were the clinking of their boots on the hard marble floors. As they approached the back of the thrones, Amara's hands started to shake. Her head looked at the floor and her body slumped. T'ranthiom shoved her along again until the Baya slid off his throne to approach them.

"Amara," he hissed again as he circled her. She didn't look up. The anger pulsed in her veins and threatened to take over. She was a pacifist. She had sworn only to heal and protect. The desire to kill him sickened her to the core. How could this feeling override her gentle ways.

The Baya stopped in front of her and laughed. It was a deep chest built laugh that shook his entire body. He placed his claw gently at the side of Amara's face and pulled her head up until she was staring into his eyes. He smiled down at her with his four sharp pointed fangs surrounded by smaller teeth.

"Do you know why I spared you," he asked softly, dangerously close to Amara's face. Amara's skin crawled.

Her mind raced with thoughts that didn't seem to be her own. "Spared me! That means the other four are dead. He killed them Amara. He killed four innocent Negotiators who were only trying to make ends meet at home. Their families needed them and he killed them. He doesn't deserve to live."   

"........I will rule Amara! Don't you see," the creature had been talking. Amara couldn't hear anything above the roar in her head. "With you in my army, I can finally get my revenge on ...."

"I won't help you," Amara sniveled. She spit in his face. He retracted a second before hitting her with the back of his hand. She fell to the floor.

"I would rather die. I can't help a housecat like you."The Baya roared in anger. Amara looked up. Her eyes were hard and her lips pulled thin. "You are weak to need a human's help. Your armies will leave you to die in your pitiful attempt. I will stand there and watch as you take your last breath. I will not heal you. You deserve to die. I will make a coat of your ....."

"I'll show you weak," the creature grabbed Amara by the neck, lifted her, and shoved her into the side of a column. The creature held her in the air and she grabbed onto the claw to try to pry it off her throat. She gasped for breath but found a wall blocking her attempts. She tried lashing out at the Baya but he laughed at her efforts. Tears involuntarily rolled down her cheeks. Her ears started to pop.          "I will stand here and watch you try to take your last breath. I am not weak! I will rule this land!" The room was in an uproar. The other Naih cheered on the triumph.

"Enough," commanded T'ranthiom. The Baya looked at T'ranthiom in shock. The room fell quiet.  "Baya, I hereby charge you with treason against the Naih race. You admitted to the lord's council your plan to overthrow his rule. The council has found you guilty. Your punishment is imprisonment."

The Baya dropped Amara to the floor. She held her throat as she took her first burning breath. With each breath, her shaking went away. Her neck, though, burned where the Baya touched. She looked up at the Baya as he approached T'ranthiom.

The Baya's chest puffed out as he laughed.  He strode up to T'ranthiom where he stood and looked him over. He turned to his army of monsters and gestured to the crowd.