Trojian Horse
Chapter 16

News of the attack on the camp eventually reached the Capital. Hethios knew something was not right. Even before he had heard the official report he had felt a sudden uneasiness, inexplicable and troubling. It was unheard of for any of the wild creatures in the forests to attack any of their camps. The location had been specifically chosen for its protective flora as well as its geography. An attack just seemed incomprehensible.

Hethios remained immersed in the shadows of the dimly lit room. A small window hung at the top of the long narrow room which was unfurnished. It was one of the few rooms in the palace that remained unused, a sort of haven from all the chaos around the palace. His thoughts had been focused on the many other events that were occurring on the planet but this latest attack was the strongest signal of what he suspected. Something had changed. It was as if these events were a precursor to something he could not quite figure out. Something big was coming.

The little news they received was not very detailed. All he knew was that a group of talaksh had run into the camp, somehow starting a fire that burnt down some tents but then they were quickly driven out of the camp. It was absurd because talaksh favoured the shadows and always avoided any gatherings preferring to hide in the forests, and hunt mostly in solitude although they were known to hunt and travel in twos. They took nothing from the camp and did not even attempt to fight any of the Vulpeculae. There was the colossal fact that Arien was missing but he could not reconcile that kind of intellect with talaksh and he could certainly not figure out any reason why they would want to take Arien. And yet Arien was the only one missing. Nura’s account mentioned that she had seen him disappearing around a tree and that was the last she saw of him. He would have to question her further when she came back to the Capital.

He heard movement in the next room and exited into the adjacent room which was more spacious with walls lined with numerous charts and diagrams, and a long table in the centre of the room littered with open scrolls and books. He walked in to find Ti-lo, his daughter hunched over some charts. She looked up at him when she became aware of his presence.

“Father, we have some news from the camp. A messenger is ready in the hall.”

“I’ll only be a moment Ti-lo,” Hethios replied. “I just can’t seem to figure this out.” The last part he mumbled to himself. Hethios set about arranging the charts and books on the table for when he returned to continue his work.

Ti-lo seemed very interested in the charts around the room, and began pacing the whole length of one side of the room thoroughly inspecting the charts on that end. Hethios expressed his annoyance with a well-timed cough. Ti-lo timidly stepped back though she found she could not resist asking a question or two. She was generally very shy but she had a love for the science that made Hethios proud. Ti-lo pointed at one chart and asked what it was. Hethios told her it was a map of the city. Ti-lo noted that it seemed odd, for a city.

“Well,” Hethios said.

“Well, I’m not sure some of these compartments exist. I’ve never seen them.”

“Our city has many secrets, believe me.”

“I’m sure it does. The Queen has told me some of our history, and as you can imagine I have many questions.” Her voice trailed off as she shifted her gaze onto a chart right next to the city map.

“And this?” She pointed a finger at the chart as she spoke of.

“A star chart. Do you recognise where we are there?”

“Humm, somewhere over here.” She pointed to a vacant space a little bigger than her thin index finger.

“Very good,” came the reply. “How might I ask do you know that?”

“I read a lot.” She turned her attention to the floor and inspected it intently until Hethios broke the silence.

“A little-known fact among the younger Vulpeculae is that we were nomads for a long time before we called Trojian our home.”

“I know,” Ti-lo replied. A smiled pierced Hethios normally expressionless face as Ti-lo spoke. His daughter showed a clear interest in his scientific work and knowledge in general. She would make a fine queen someday.

“A lot has changed since then,” Hethios said, sighing deeply.

“Like what?” Ti-lo asked returning her attention to the star chart.

“As much as I love Trojian, I miss the adventure, the freedom of being out there among the stars. I miss our friends, the cause. I dislike the anonymity.”

“I’m not sure what you mean by anonymity,” Ti-lo said, only half expecting an answer. She knew her father could be guarded when he wanted so she didn’t want to press too much.

“It’s nothing,” he said. She sighed.

“ Will I be able to see it someday? Space. Be surrounded by it.”

“I hope not. If you ever do, then it means something is very wrong.” Hethios seemed to drift off after his comment.

“And what’s this?” Ti-lo asked, looking to bring her father back to the present.

“Happenings. Happenings that don’t quite make sense to me right now.”

“What sort of happenings?” Ti-lo looked back at the notes and began studying them more closely. Hethios generally felt annoyed when anyone looked too long and too hard at his work. He liked to have his laboratory all to himself but he made an exception for Ti-lo and sometimes Arien. It was his way of grooming them in the science because they showed an interest where much of the Vulpeculae would rather entrust their survival in mystical gobbledygook.

“Disappearing species, Streams drying out suddenly, creatures that have not been attacked by anything dying out suddenly. Uncharacteristic behaviour of some creatures like those talaksh that attacked the camp. We have even had rain in some parts. Then Arien’s disappearance. It’s all a mystery. It’s all connected though, somehow.” Hethios had a grave look on his face.

“Rain?” asked Ti-lo.

“Oh, you wouldn’t know what that is. It’s when the water comes from the sky from the clouds you see floating around the mountain tops only this time they float around the places we live. You are obviously more used to seeing water seep up from the ground or rivers flooding to provide water to the plants here. It truly is a strange world. For me more than you.” Hethios felt satisfied with his answer and a look of wonder was plastered on his face as he contemplated how unique Trojian was from all the planets he had been to. Ti-lo simply nodded her acknowledgment.

“You are worried about Arien?”

“Of course I am. He has never been away from our protection.”

“Don’t be,” she answered, opening all four of her eyes as if she were trying to beam her hope into him.

“And, why shouldn’t I?”

“You told me that he was special, right? That he had a purpose that would reveal itself in time and even you weren’t told what it was and when the time would be, yes?”

“I vaguely remember telling you that,” he said.

“Then maybe this is it,” she said, matter-of-factly.

“You get that mysticism from your mother. I can’t be satisfied with that. There must be an explanation, there always is.” Hethios was slightly annoyed at her giving way to the inexplicable as soon as she had no answer. That was not the scientific way.

“The Queen is not a mystic. We just believe in more than your science can explain,” she said. “At least until you can offer us an explanation.”

“Of course,” Hethios replied. “You really have a way with words Ti-lo. You will make a great queen one day.”

Ti-lo nodded.

“Maybe we should go and find out what that messenger has. Perhaps Arien has been found and I won’t have to hear any more about magical destinies.”

She led the way out of Hethios laboratory, through the winding corridors until they reached the palace halls. They walked on in silence until they reached the throne room, or the hall as Ti-lo called it, which was occupied by the Queen, a few guards and a messenger who was seated on the floor before a large white chair that served as the throne. Silence shrouded the entire room. Hethios bowed low before the queen extending his salutations then took his place next to her throne. She looked up at him from her seat, the worry was evident in her eyes. Ti-lo bowed before the Queen and began walking towards the door behind the throne.

“No, don’t go. You must hear this,” the Queen said.

Ti-lo stopped and took her place on the opposite side of the Queen’s throne.

The messenger began relating the story of the attack on the village. His information was based on the information received by those at the camp in the wilderness, none of whom had made it back to the capital yet.

“My queen, for now all we know is that nobody has been injured. The attack was conducted by some talaksh but being the blundering creatures they are they were soon chased off although not before some damage.”

“What sort of damage?” the queen enquired.

“Minimal my queen. Although…” the guard hesitated.

“Yes, speak on.” The queen encouraged him.

“We now know that Arien was taken by them. We found ropes which we know were used to tie him up not far from the camp, the scent was still strong there although following in the forest is…impossible.”

The despair escaped the lungs of the queen and Hethios in a single breath.

“Do we know if he is alive, at least.”

“Oh yes my Queen. He escaped, for sure because we eventually came upon the same two talaksh wandering the forest.

“How do you know they were the same that had Arien?”

“They had his beads, no mistaking them.”

“There is hope then. Do what you can.”

The messenger understood that as a dismissal. He got to his feet, bowed low and exited the throne room.

“What do you think it means?” the Queen asked, turning to Hethios.

“I have no idea. None.”

“There is hope, at the very least.”

“Yes there is. Although I worry about Arien’s ability to survive in the forests on his own.”

“Yanwe will guide him and bring him back to us,” the Queen said placing her left hand on one his right hands. “He will return to us, have faith Hethios.”

“Yes, my Queen. This time, I hope you are right.”

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