The Days of the Golden Moons (The Two Moons of Rehnor, Book 5) (10 page)

Chapter 20

Tuman

He
did not summon me aboard the starship.

“Does
he know I am here?” I asked Taner.

“Of
course,” Taner replied.  “He knows everything, does he not?”  Taner looked ill,
very tired and ill.  “When we have secured clearance for you, you shall board a
spaceplane with him and taxi down to the planet.  We will set you as close to
the Temple as we are allowed and then the plane will wait there until you wish
to return.  I believe you will need to walk for several miles to reach the
Temple.  I have provisions and backpacks for you to carry.  There is food and
water enough for several days as well as blankets and a medical kit.  If you
need more provisions, you may return to the spaceplane to fetch them.  He does
not walk well now so it will be slow going.”

“You
will be there, on the plane?” I asked.

“I
will be here on the starship, but you need only have the officers on the ground
ring me if you require anything at all.”

When
Taner left, I packed my few items into one of the backpacks.  I had brought the
ceremonial robes of a High Priest, oil for the Eternal Light, Incense, Barkuti,
a blade and an urn.  I had also brought a robe for HIM.  Then, I knelt down
before the window of my stateroom, and I prayed that I would know what to do
when we got there because surely I did not know what to do now.

He
did not speak to me in the spaceplane either.  I boarded first, and when he
did, I made obeisance at his feet.  He walked past me as if I did not exist and
all I saw of him was his back as he went into the office. 

I
thought of my brother, Pedah on the ride down to this planet of ghosts.  What
would my brother do were he in the plane here instead of me? 

He
would laugh at the MaKennah, I decided.  He would say “What makes you think you
can ignore me when it is you who has brought me here?” 

Pedah
would go back to the office and demand the MaKennah put on his robe for one
does not desecrate the Holy Temple by wearing the clothing of the Mishnese.  He
would look upon this planet I saw before me, a rainbow of colors of a land that
was healed and a land that still bore open wounds and my brother would cry as I
did because this land was once our home.

We
landed in a valley as green and welcoming as our own valley on Rehnor.   The
sun was setting, and the sky was a mass of blue and purple with a trace of
orange where the sun had last been.  A single moon rose, and it was to me
disconcerting.  I did not know whether this moon was the Mother or the Child
and who did it chase about the night sky?  The wind was warm though, and it
smelled of fir trees and fresh water.  A hawk circled overhead and watched us
and somewhere across a river, I heard the call of a coyote.  I felt this place
in blood as if I had lived here all of my life.  This land was in my bones, in
my DNA.  I stood at the door of the spaceplane, at the top of the stair.  I was
my great father, Karukan, surveying my kingdom.  I knew in my heart, I would do
everything and anything to save it.

I
felt the Emperor's presence behind me and I fell to my knees.

“Get
up,” he ordered sharply and debarked the plane.  He limped badly and leaned
heavily on his stick.  Taner was indeed correct.  He did not move quickly at
all, and I forced my gait to slow in order to stay behind him.  I carried my
backpack over my shoulder and thought again of my brother.  Pedah would walk
slowly without even trying.  My brother would chew a stem of grass and pause
here and there to watch the sunset.  He would drink in the scent of this earth
and sing a greeting back to the birds.  He would call to the coyotes as they welcomed
him.  I slowed my pace even more. 

I
did not know exactly where the Holy Temple was, but we continued in the same
direction as if a magnet were pulling us.  This too must have been in my DNA
for several hours later in the dark of the Rozarian night lit only by her
single moon, we arrived at ancient building made of stone.  Inside there was a flickering
of light from the lamp that held the Eternal Flame.   My nephew went forward
and prostrated himself on the floor before the altar.  He removed his garments
and wore nothing, no robe.  I saw in the dim light the scars covering his back,
the markings done by me years ago and more recently by my son.  My son did a
lousy job.  On his right arm, the Emperor had more markings foreign to me and
his left leg was spoiled by a thick and terrible scar.  I covered his back with
the robe I had brought for him and then I lay down beside him and prayed.

We
stayed for many days and many nights.  During the day, we ate our provisions
and in the evening we smoked Barkuti and lit the incense.  I saw my brothers in
the wafts of smoke; Lot, whom I knew not well, and Pedah who I knew as well as
my own heart.  My father came to me too, and all of them spoke to me, but I could
not understand their words.  One day I walked back to the spaceplane to
retrieve more water and food and then returned to the Temple to resume my vigil
beside the MaKennah.

After
more than two weeks, the MaKennah spoke to me at last.  His eyes were bright,
brighter than I had ever witnessed, and they lit up the dark recesses of these
ancient stone walls.

“I
am finished,” he said.  His voice was hoarse and rasped from lack of use.  He sat,
his scarred leg stretched out awkwardly before him.

“Finished
what?” I asked.  “Are you finished here in this Temple?”

“Yes,”
he replied.  “Here in this Temple, here on this planet, here in this Universe.”

“What
does that mean?”

“It
means I have had enough of being the MaKennah.”  His voice grew quiet.  “I have
had enough of this life.”

I
watched his face.  I wondered if he had too much of the ceremonial drug.

“I
have done everything He has asked.”  My nephew rose with great difficulty to
his feet.  He reached for his stick and balanced himself with it.  His face
paled from the pain of this misshapen, damaged leg.  “I have spilt my blood and
rebirthed this planet,” he continued, turning away from me and back to the
altar.  “I have set billions of people free. I have released them from the
bondage, from the shackles of oppressive governance.  I have brought justice,
liberty, and prosperity to this galaxy, and now,” he paused and limped forward
to the Eternal Flame. “I am finished.”  A light flickered across his face as
the flame reflected upon the metal in his hand.

“I,
Sehron de Kudisha,” he whispered, slicing his wrist with the blade.  His blood
poured down upon the flame hissing and burning and sending wafts of foul smoke
into the air.  “MaKennah ka Rehnor, King of Mishnah and Karupatani, and the sixteen
other fucking planets, Emperor of All Rehnor do declare this Holy Temple once
again consecrated and name Tuman de Kudisha, Prince of Karupatani, the High
Holy Priest of Karupatani, Rozari and New Karupatani, Rehnor.  That's it, I am
done.”  Blood flowed like a stream running across the stone floors to my feet. 
“Now let me go!” he shouted upward.  “Let me go!”

“Stop
it!” I cried and ran to him.  He collapsed upon a knee, clutching at the flame
as if it were the only thing that might keep him upright.  “Stop it, stop it!” 
Both wrists were cut, and blood pooled everywhere.

“I
want to die,” he begged.  “I am in pain, and I want to die!”

“Stop
it, Senya!” I yelled and slapped him twice across his face, as hard as I could. 
He fell back against the podium on which the lamp sat, and the blade clattered
as it fell against the floor.  The lamp teetered on its mounting and I reached
for it as it had to stay lit.  It could not die as it had before and lay
dormant for a thousand years.  I steadied it as Senya slumped further on the
floor, lying in his own blood, the fight gone out of him. 

Racing
to my backpack, I retrieved the medical kit finding within it long bandages and
sealant. 

Bless
Taner for having anticipated this, I thought, and curse him for not having
warned me.  I turned to hurry back to my nephew’s side, but was stopped by what
appeared before me. 

Hovering
above Senya’s body were three bright orbs of silver light.  They stretched and grew
into forms, man-like forms with huge dark wings.  Falling back on my heels, I
shielded my eyes before I became blinded by their omnipotent light.

The
angels spoke to Senya in a language I could not understand whilst he lay there
inert.  I watched him, for his body reflected and glowed with a sliver mist
surrounding him, swirling about him until another orb emerged and now there
were four of these angel men.  They argued, their voices became violent
whispers in my mind.  Though I did not comprehend their words, I knew their
names.  I knew who they were.

I
blinked as tears came to my eyes.  I wept and reached out to them but as soon
as I did, they vanished.  

“Taner!”
I screamed.  “Taner!  Taner!”  My voice echoed through the dark and silent
chambers of the Holy Temple.

Chapter 21

Taner

“Thank
you,” Prince Tuman said.

“Don't
thank me,” I replied.  My chest hurt.  I sat down on the sofa in the prince's
stateroom.  “I thank you.”

“It
was not me at all.”  Tuman looked at me curiously.  He crossed to the liquor
cabinet and removed a bottle.  “He is doing well then?” 

“Of
course.  We are only beginning Act III.  Open that.  We will share.”

Tuman
studied the label.  “I want my own.  I will drink it all myself.”

I
laughed.  “Enjoy then,” I said.  “Drink to your nephew's health and happiness.”

“Ay
yah.  It shall require much more than my drinking to ensure that.”  He brought
me a glass and poured the clear innocuous liquid that looked so much like plain
water yet could soothe our troubled hearts.  He sat down across from me, but we
did not speak.  We drank.  We drank the entire bottle, and we were numbed, I looked
at Tuman and saw great tears coursing down his cheeks.

“What
happened in there?” I asked.

Tuman
shook his head.  “I cannot even begin to say.  You will not believe me even if
I try.”

“Oh,
I will,” I scoffed.  “I have seen just about everything and have come to
believe just about anything since the first moment I laid eyes upon Senya.”

Tuman
studied his empty glass as if the answers lay there in.  “I saw…”  He stopped
and shook his head again.  “Perhaps I saw nothing.  My mind was in shock and
imagining all sorts of things.  I had earlier believed myself to be speaking
with my father and brothers.  It could have been merely the Barkuti.  I had too
much.  I must have had too much.” 

“Perhaps,”
I agreed.  “Don't cry, Prince.  I believe that things from now on will only
improve.”

“How
come you to this knowledge, Lord Taner?  What secret was revealed to you that
went unnoticed by me?”

“I
don't know.  Maybe, it is only that I cannot imagine it getting any worse.” 
However, for some reason yet unbeknownst to me, I was optimistic.  I felt the
worst had passed us.  My heart ached though, and it was a physical as well as
emotional pain. 

“Perhaps
you too are clairvoyant,” the Prince suggested, forlornly.  “We can only hope
that your words ring true.”

“Either
that or I am merely drunk,” I replied.

In
the early hours of the morning, I was summoned by the Emperor.  He was alone in
his shipboard office quietly working at the great desk there.  He was not even
conscious when we brought him back aboard the previous evening yet now, he was
as before though his wrists were heavily bandaged beneath his thick gold cuffs
and the light from his eyes was shockingly bright.

“Good
morning, Taner,” he greeted me as I approached. 

“Sir.”

“I
want this distributed.”  He handed me a document with his signature scrawled
across the bottom.  His eyes lit on my face as I reached for the paper.  “You
are ill,” he said with concern.

“Am
I?” I rasped.  My heart tightened in my chest at the suggestion.  “How so?”

“Ach,
Taner,” he sighed and shook his head.  “You are having a heart attack.  You've
been having a series of them.  Why have you not gone to the infirmary before
now?”

“I
didn't know,” I stuttered as the pain increased.

“You've
got two blocked arteries.  Lie down, right now.”  He pointed at the sofa.  I
nearly collapsed upon it as he rose up from the desk and limped to my side. 
“Come on, Taner, you should have said something.  We could have treated you
early on, and you would have felt much better all year.”

“I
truly didn't realize,” I cried.  “What are you doing?”  He was unbuttoning my
shirt.

“I'm
sorry, Taner,” he said, placing his left palm upon my chest.  “I should have
noticed.  I've been too lost in my own troubles.  I nearly let you die.”

“What
are you doing?” I repeated anxiously.  Perhaps he meant to finish me off now,
pressing hard against my struggling heart.  The pain was growing quite intense. 
I feared that there were tears falling from my eyes as I struggled to stay
conscious.

“Don't
fight it, Taner.  I won’t hurt you…anymore.”  I could see him no longer as the
silver light had grown so bright it was obscuring my vision.  My whole body was
infused with this light.  I felt it surge through my veins, warming my muscles,
filling my lungs, and bursting into my heart, breaking the dam that had been
blocking my blood.  Suddenly, the pain was gone, and my heart was pumping
strong.  Suddenly, I felt as strong as a man half my age.

“What
did you do?” I wept as the light dimmed and my eyes could see once again.  He
removed his hand from my chest and closed his eyes.

“A
new trick.”  He smiled and struggled to his feet.  For a moment, he leaned heavily
on his cane, catching his breath.

“You
fixed my heart!”  I sat up.  “Just like that!”

“Ay
yah.  Less recovery time than a bypass.  Go to the infirmary and get yourself
some blood thinners, anti-coagulants and cholesterol lowering drugs.”  He
limped back to his desk and fell heavily in his chair.  “I can't revive you
every time you let yourself go.”

“I
will!”  I jumped to my feet.  “Thank you, Sir.  I am speechless with
gratitude.  Are you alright?”

“Taner,
you are never speechless,” he replied reaching again for the paper he was going
to present at the start.  “I'll be fine momentarily.  A bit winded is all.  Now
distribute this and see that it is presented to the Alliance and the citizens
of Rozari.”

“What
is it?”  I glanced down the page.

“It
is an explanation,” he paused and took a deep breath, “Of why I have taken
Rozari.” 

I
stood and waited for him to continue.  He didn’t.  He rubbed his temples and
then fumbled blindly through his desk drawers for a cigarette.

“Why
did you take them?  They did not ask to join our empire,” I said as he lit up. 
I wasn’t about to start arguing after he had just saved my life, yet I was most
anxious to know.  “It was unprecedented, Sir.”

“Do
you doubt they will benefit from inclusion in our empire?”

“No,
of course not.  But what of the resistance?  We are coercing them, are we not?”

“Taner,
there are two factions that are against us in this, the Humans and the Saintists. 
The Humans' objections are born out of the impending demise of the Alliance.  Rozari
is neither their planet nor their colony.  The Alliance located a large
landbase there because at the time, the Rozarian government was willing to give
them land still recovering from nuclear winter.  This property, which no one
else could or would want to inhabit, became taxable and generated revenue for
the government.  Now you see, the landbase has been evacuated already, and it
is closed.  The Alliance will find another base on another planet to build
their offices and house the bureaucrats.”

“But
what of the Saintists on Rozari then?  Do you not fear an uprising among them?”

“What
of them?” he countered.  “We had Saintists here in Mishnah too.”

“Now
they think you are the new Saint,” I remarked.

“It
doesn't matter what they think of me.  Rozari is our home planet, mine as well
as yours.  It is incumbent on me to redeem and repair her for the damage wrought
by my ancestors.  We have an obligation to share our prosperity with her.  I
cannot look upon Talas or Cascadia or Altaris or any of them and not think that
our brothers and sisters of Rozari should enjoy what all our people have.  How
can I not make it so even if I must force it upon them?”

“Thank
you for explaining this to me,” I said and bowed my head.  “I will make sure it
is communicated properly.”

“I
know you will,” he replied and putting on his glasses, he turned back to his
netbook.

I
watched him for a moment.  There was something different about him now.  It had
been years since he had worn his glasses, but that was not it.  There was a
strange band of silver in his hair.  From root to tip on either side of his
head there were strands of silver hair shining as bright as his eyes.  I had
never noticed this before.

“Senya?”
I gasped.  “What happened to you?”

He
didn’t answer immediately though he stopped his typing and appeared to consider
whether or not he wished to tell me.

“Why
did you do it?”

“I
thought I was done,” he replied after a time.  “I thought there was nothing
more I needed to do here.”

“Here?” 
I asked, and as I did so, I saw in this moment an aura about him.  The light
that saved my heart glowed throughout his whole being, sparkling in his eyes
and shining in his newly silver hair.

“Who
are you really, Senya?” I whispered.

He
smiled slightly and shrugged.

“That,
Taner, is complicated.”