Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (3 page)

“This place reminds me so much of Ancient Egypt it’s uncanny,” Karma said to Captain Singer. 

“Yes, that was my thought the first time I came here as well,” Captain Singer replied.

“What is
Ancient Egypt
?” King Rhobar asked, surprising Karma.  She didn’t think he would be listening to anything she had to say, though he was only a couple of paces ahead of them.

“It was a civilization on Earth in ancient times,” Karma replied.  “The country was much like this, desert with a river running through it.  They made extensive use of stone to build their cities, much like you do.  The pyramids they built from huge blocks of stone still stand today, as do giant statues, tombs, and buildings.  On Earth they are still regarded as wonders of the world.”

“Interesting,” King Rhobar said as they reached the end of the long walkway and began climbing a broad set of stone steps leading up to a long narrow plaza.  By the time they finally reached the entrance to the palace, Karma was ready to sit down and take a rest.

King Rhobar led them through a wide, arched doorway and into the palace itself.  It took a few moments for Karma’s eyes to adjust after the bright sunlight but when she was able to see clearly, she gasped softly at her surroundings.  The hall King Rhobar was leading them down was very wide and very high, but it was the walls that caused her to gasp.  They were made of stone, and intricately carved with beautiful scenes from floor to ceiling.  There were people, animals, birds, trees, plants, and fish.  Too much to fully grasp as they hurried along.  She promised herself that, if she were given the opportunity, she would come back here and spend time studying it. 

“The carvings in the Hall of People are not bad,”
Nikura said.  “
Those in King Rhobar’s Audience Chamber are much nicer.
”

Karma glanced down at the Sphin who was walking beside her.  “Let me guess, Nikura,” she said, “there are Sphin on the walls there, right?”

“Of course
,” Nikura replied.

Karma’s laugh died in her throat as King Rhobar stopped and spun around, an expression of shock on his face as he stared at Karma, then the Sphin, then back to Karma.  He opened his mouth to say something, looked at the crowd of people surrounding them and changed his mind.  Without a word he turned back and continued to lead them down the hall, picking up the pace a bit. 

A few minutes later Karma, Captain Singer and Torl stood uncertainly in the middle of a large room with a throne at one end and not much else.  King Rhobar had closed the doors firmly on the guards, leaving everyone else in the hall, except Nikura who sat beside Karma.  Then he began to pace back and forth before the throne, his forehead wrinkled in thought.  Karma glanced down at the Sphin, its head nearly at her waist, wondering why it seemed to be sticking close to her.

“
I’m sticking close to you because I find the fact that you can understand me interesting
,” Nikura said, answering her silent question.

“How did you know that’s what I was thinking?” she asked.  “Can you read my mind?” 

Nikura looked up at her, one ear cocked back in expression of disdain.  “
Of course I can’t read your mind,”
he said. 
“Even if I could, why would I?”

“Then how did you know what I was thinking?”

“I did not know what you were thinking,”
Nikura replied.
  “You asked me a question, I answered it.” 
  

Karma thought about that as she watched the Sphin yawn widely, displaying an impressive number of sharp, white teeth.  When she looked up she realized that King Rhobar, Captain Singer, and Torl were all staring at her.  She was suddenly very glad that she wasn’t prone to blushing.

“Excuse me,” she said.  “That was probably rude.”

King Rhobar studied her for a long moment.  “May I ask your name, please?”

“I am Karma Baraka.”

“May I ask, is talking to animals a usual talent of yours?”

“No, it’s not,” Karma replied.  “This is definitely a first for me.”

The Sphin’s ears flattened against his head and he growled softly.  “
I am
not
an animal.
”

Karma rolled her eyes at him.  “Shush,” she said.

“What did he say?” King Rhobar asked.

“Please remember, this comes from him, not me,” Karma cautioned.  King Rhobar nodded.

“He insists, emphatically, that he is not an animal.”

King Rhobar’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.  “If he is not an animal, then what is he?”

“I am a Sphin,”
Nikura said.  “
Are all humans so dense?  I confess, I have known King Rhobar his entire life, and I have always thought him to be adequately intelligent for a human.”

Karma cleared her throat in an effort to hide her desire to laugh.  “He says that he is a Sphin.”

“Why is a Sphin not an animal?” King Rhobar asked.

“Because animals cannot talk to humans
,” Nikura said in his snootiest tone yet.

Karma wasn’t so sure about that.  Princess Lariah was able to communicate with animals, but she didn’t think now was the time to bring that up.  Instead, she told King Rhobar what Nikura had said, leaving out the Sphin’s tone.

“We have a legend that speaks of a woman who can speak with the Sphin,” King Rhobar said.  “It is said that she had other gifts, special gifts, that were unique to her alone.” 

“What gifts?” Karma asked, sensing that King Rhobar was waiting for the question.

“They varied,” King Rhobar replied vaguely.  “Do you have other unusual abilities?”

Karma nearly laughed.  He refused to be forthcoming with her, but expected her to tell him her own secrets?  Not hardly.

“Good decision,”
Nikura said.

Karma frowned down at the Sphin but decided not to engage in further conversation with him at the moment.  She’d had enough of the spotlight.  She glanced back up at King Rhobar, the expression on his face reminding her that he had asked her a question. 

“That may depend on what one considers unusual,” she hedged.  “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“No, I do not mind,” King Rhobar replied, smiling reluctantly.  There was something about this young woman that he liked, in spite of the glimpse of prickles and spines he’d just gotten.  Or because of it.

“What exactly is a
Techu
?”

“Where did you hear that word?” King Rhobar asked.

“Nikura,” Karma replied.  “I asked him why I could hear him when no one else could, and he told me that if I were a
Techu
and had a...something...it would make sense, but as I didn’t, he didn’t know.”

King Rhobar studied her for so long that she began to get uneasy.  “A
Techu
is one who speaks for the dead,” he said finally.  “We have not been graced with such for many generations.  Too long, in truth.  A
Ti-Ank
is the mark of a Techu.  Literally, it means
staff of life
.”

Karma’s heart skipped one beat, then another as her breath froze.  She had almost expected that he would say something like that, but hearing the words was far more frightening than thinking them.  Karma knew that King Rhobar was going to get suspicious if she didn’t say something soon, but she couldn’t force herself to breathe, let alone speak.

Suddenly the door burst open, startling Karma into breathing at last.  She stared as a tall, dark haired man with pale blue eyes marched into the room.  He wore a red pleated kilt low on his hips, leather sandals and an open leather vest.  The pleats of the kilt were split from the middle of his thighs to his knees, the bottom edges of each pleat trimmed in gold so that they swung with each step he took.  His sandals were dark leather with thick soles, and long ties that wrapped around his calves.  The vest was dark like the sandals, and decorated with myriad symbols.  The man also wore wide bands of gold around his wrists, and a golden torc around his neck.

Karma had seen naked men before.  Not many, but enough that she knew what they looked like.  Aside from a normal curiosity about the opposite sex when she’d been a teenager, she’d never felt much one way or the other about men’s bodies.  Some were nicer to look at than others, but she’d never had a physical reaction to seeing a man before. 

Until now.  As she watched the man enter the room, the long, hard muscles of his legs flowing beneath the smooth, golden brown skin, she felt something in her belly tighten.  Her mouth went dry as she gazed at the broad shoulders, the arms bulging with muscle, the flash of flat brown nipples displayed when the vest shifted as he walked.  She raised her eyes to his face and very nearly gasped aloud.  Never in her life had she thought of a male as
beautiful
before.  Until now.  There was simply no other word to describe this man.  In her eyes, beautiful was the only word that came close.

He had a strong, masculine face with a wide, sensuous mouth, sculpted cheekbones and a bold, straight nose.  Karma’s eyes lingered on his mouth for a long moment, but it was the eyes that really captured her attention.  His golden tan skin and thick black lashes intensified their pale blue color so that they nearly glowed, capturing Karma’s gaze as though hypnotizing her.  It wasn’t until the man lowered himself to one knee before King Rhobar and bowed his head that she realized she’d been staring.

She jerked her eyes from the man and focused hard on King Rhobar instead, mortified by her reaction.  Fortunately, the man was far too intent on his own business to have noticed Karma at all.

“Rise, my son,” King Rhobar said as he moved toward the young man.  The man rose to his feet in a graceful and practiced motion and stepped forward to clasp arms with King Rhobar

“Father, I returned as quickly as I could,” the man said.  “What news of my sister?”

“None as yet,” King Rhobar replied.  “Bredon leads two Hunter groups in pursuit.”

“The runner told me that the evil ones used off-world machines that travel at impossible speeds,” the man said with barely controlled anger.  “Bredon has no chance of catching them.”

“No, he does not,” King Rhobar admitted.  “However, Captain Singer brought shifter men who can fly like birds.  They also hunt.”

The man’s jaw clenched tightly as he seemed to struggle with himself.  After a moment he turned to face Captain Singer and bowed shortly.  “Your assistance is appreciated,” he said tightly. 

Captain Singer bowed her head.  “I have done nothing, Prince Zakiel,” she said.  “However, if any can find and return Princess Kapia, the Gryphons can, and will.”

Karma sensed that the Prince was not altogether pleased, and it wasn’t only because his sister had been kidnapped.  He didn’t seem to like either Captain Singer, or the idea that her help had been needed.

“I will take my Hunters and follow Bredon,” Prince Zakiel said, turning back to King Rhobar.

King Rhobar stared at his son for a long moment before replying.  “As you wish,” he said finally.  “Before you go, I would speak with you alone.”

Prince Zakiel hesitated so briefly that Karma nearly missed it.  Then he raised his left fist to his forehead and bowed.  “As my King commands,” he said.

“Captain Singer, if you would be so kind as to open the door, Talet will be pleased to show you to the dining hall,” King Rhobar said without taking his eyes off of his son.   

“Of course, Highness,” Captain Singer said.  She bowed briefly, then gestured silently to Karma before leading the way to the door.  The Sphin stood up and stretched slowly, then glanced at Karma over one shoulder before turning around to follow her out of King Rhobar’s Audience Chamber.