Cale left the Arturo Vineyard and went straight to the towering Palladium Gates hidden in the vast sandy dunes of the oldest desert in the world, The Namib. The Sentinel who lived at the gates guarding the gates appeared at Cale’s approach.
Sahdrina, daughter of The Namib, guardian of lost souls who wandered to the Palladium Gates. Sahdrina was as old as Cale, as secretive, if not more. She governed the border into the Ekho with an iron fist.
Cale frowned because Sahdrina often opened the gates for him without showing herself to him. When she did, especially in the form of a woman holding a long walking stick, he knew she had words for him.
Shining flecks of the same silver-white found on the palladium gates dusted her light-brown skin. Her paler white hair was in thick locks and it flowed down her back. Her sand-colored dress swept the sand under her bare feet.
“Cale of the Night,” she said in greeting.
“Sahdrina of The Namib,” Cale said, coming to stop before her.
His gaze lingered on the thick wooden walking stick forged from an olive tree. It turned into a vengeful sword when Sahdrina wished to deal a punishment for violations of the gate.
“Forgive me for interrupting your passage,” Sahdrina said. “A message was left with me by your brother. The Septum gathers. They all felt the shift of power in the mortal realm. They seek answers.”
“As always,” Cale said, giving her an elegant nod. “I thank you for the message, Sahdrina.”
“Instead of thanks, I will ask a question of you, god of calamity,” Sahdrina said, taking a step closer to him. “Do you consent?”
Cale remained where he stood and met silver-gray eyes.
“How may I assist you, Sentinel?” Cale asked, in any case, he had no choice.
He could not enter the Ekho Realm if Sahdrina kept the palladium gates closed.
“We are experiencing strange phenomena here at the gates. A veiled creature crosses the realms with full standard authorization. He reeks of your Dark Fort and has a permission spell on his palm from the inter-clan court. My underlings have tried to discover more about this creature and failed. I now ask you, Cale of the Night. Which of your creatures have you given permission to walk through my gates?”
Cale kept his face blank. The creatures living within his defensive walls at Dark Fort had no permission from him to leave the realm. They worked to help him control the worst of the dark. They were too busy to bother visiting the gates and tangling with the Sentinel. If he were to give permission to cross the gate, he would give a Dark Fort permission spell.
The lesser clans used the inter-clan court to access resources found easily by the main clans. Still, Sahdrina would imagine an individual with dark intentions was born of his fort. It wasn’t always the case.
Cale fought down a scoff and answered the question.
“I have not allowed any of my dark creatures to visit your gates, Sahdrina.”
Sahdrina studied him for a moment before she stepped back.
“If not you, which clan in the Ekho Realm would have a dark soul moving in and out of my gates?”
Cale chuckled.
“My Dark Fort is not the only place you’ll find black-hearted creatures, Sahdrina. They only end up in my fort when they are captured for wrongdoings or decide to jump fully into my world.”
“True,” Sahdrina said, with a nod. “Then, I would like to ask for your help, god of calamity.”
“The Septum will have much to say of a request made to me by the Sentinel.”
“The creature’s permissions to cross our gates are indistinct. The palladium senses ambiguous intentions each time it crosses. This mystery is enough to have forced me to watch the crossers of this gate often. The only one allowed unfettered passage through these gates with ambiguous intent is you, Cale of the Night. I cannot allow another. The Immortal Lord suggested I bring my concerns to your attention,” Sahdrina said. “Know that I do not share my concerns with you lightly.”
Curious, Cale thought of the large infection of kara ot on Arturo’s land.
“When was the last time this creature crossed to the mortal realm?”
“Three decenniums ago the frequency of passage had me concerned,” Sahdrina said, shaking her head. “My concerns pulled me to supervise the passage of this gate in person, instead of leaving it to the acolytes. The added attention had the creature returning to our Ekho. Our routines here at the gate returned to normal. These last two years, I have noted signs of the creature returning to the gates. The visits have been staggered so as not to draw my attention, nevertheless, I notice because I remember the blankness of answers needed.”
“What do you want of me?” Cale asked.
“The identity of the creature,” Sahdrina said. “I must find out the nature of its passage through my gates and which clan it belongs to. The clans must take responsibility for those who cross to the Ekho realm.”
“I have listened to your concern,” Cale said.
“Will you assist me?” Sahdrina asked.
“I am tied to the Septum’s decisions,” Cale said. “I’ll tell them your request and give you an answer on my way back.”
“Thank you. I will await your answer.”
Sahdrina turned to the towering silver-white gates and the outer layer slid open.
She lowered her head in a rare departure as Cale passed her. He smirked and continued through the palladium gates into the realm that made one such as him. As the silver-white gate slid closed behind him, three more slid open along the corridor between the realms.
The raw energy connecting the two realms was contained between four palladium gates built by Sahdrina’s people. The power enough to suffocate a lesser Ekho with a weak mind. It crushed humans into nothing.
Each of the three doors slid closed behind Cale. The power held within stripped him of his mortal realm glamour and returned what it took from him as he entered the Ekho realm. With a thought, Cale changed his ruined navy blue suit into his standard clothing. A black long-sleeve, close-fitting, knee-length coat with a stand-up collar and dark leathers for trousers. They disappeared into leather boots, with gold plates lining the sides.
The last of the doors slid closed behind him, and he stopped to breathe in the air. Fresh and revitalizing, it restored his power, and gave him a healthy glow. He flexed his hands, testing the dark power racing in his veins and it responded like the air he breathed, present and reliable.
Visualizing the citadel built on a floating island; Cale took a step forward and appeared at the entrance of his brother’s personal domain.
The immortal lord’s island was filled with wild nature: unique plants and fruits, old tall trees, waters pouring the sides of the floating island, and lush land that grew any food needed for those who called the island home. In the middle of the island, the towers of the white citadel stood tall and proud in the bright sun. The white-walled citadel was the immortal lord’s home. The citadel’s courtyards are open to those who lived on the island, and those who chose to serve under the immortal lord. He held no one here who did not want to be here.
Cale walked a long wide path lined with thick columns. The wild forests on each side of him filled with the sound of birds chattering. Gossiping creatures sending news to their master of his arrival.
As if on cue, the immortal lord and his blood brother appeared to his right, matching Cale’s footsteps.
“Cale.”
“Brother,” Cale said in greeting.
Sunu was the most powerful Ekho in the realm. He ruled the Septum, keeping a steady majestic equilibrium among six creatures of great power. He was the light to Cale’s dark. His power was absolute, his judgment obeyed without question, and his true name was Immortal Lord, Sunu Ryuzo. An emperor and a guardian of the Ekho Realm.
“You’ve come from the mortal realm,” Sunu said. “How is my son?”
“Unconscious,” Cale replied, stealing a glance at his brother.
Sunu was dressed in a long loose white shirt made of natural fibers. It framed his muscular figure to perfection. His legs were in white-fitting trousers, and his feet were in leather sandals. His curly brown hair was cut short. He walked with his hands clasped behind his back. A frown creased his smooth forehead.
“You removed his cuffs,” Sunu said with a heavy sigh. “This child, why is he so stubborn? Why won’t he return to our realm and live a happy life?”
“Why did you fall in love with Anit?” Cale countered. “Your offspring comes from a stubborn fox mother, and power battery named Sunu. He was bound to live a hard life from the start.”
“You are too blunt for your own good,” Sunu said, though he did not refute Cale’s observation.
A young girl dashed onto the path, blocking Sunu’s way. The little girl was dressed in a long blue frock, her hair in a thick braid. In her hand, she held a crown woven with branches and dotted with vibrant blue gentian flowers. She looked up at Sunu, holding the crown with a wide smile.
Sunu chuckled and crouched down, presenting his head for her. She placed the crown of flowers on his head and grinned wide. She held out her hand to Sunu, and he slid his palm on hers, blessing her with flecks of gold dust. An infusion of power to help her grow. She thanked him with a kiss on his cheek and then ran back to the forest. Sunu watched her leave with a small frown.
Still crouched, he looked up at Cale.
“I never got to reward my own son with gifts,” Sunu said. “Anit took him to the fox clan when we had to separate. I don’t know who I should be angry with over our current state.”
“The fox clan and the rules of your immortal clan,” Cale said, shaking his head.
“This is his last cycle in the mortal realm,” Sunu said, getting up, and making sure the crown on his head stayed put.
It was an innocent gift. He would keep the crown. Cale knew it. It was what made Sunu the light against the dark.
“Tani wanted to stay away this last cycle,” Cale said, as they continued to the citadel. “He is tired and unlucky as you in love.”
“Ryuzo men have never had a love cycle that lasted,” Sunu said, shaking his head in disappointment. “I did not wish him sadness, but he was too young when he bound his soul to a mortal. We can only hope this last cycle ends quickly. I do not care that he will have failed. Only that he will be returned to the Ekho Realm. I will have him live with me here at the citadel.”
“What if he chooses my Dark Fort?” Cale asked. “His soul will be ravaged with loss. Do you believe your bright citadel will fill him with joy again?”
“I will not lose my son to anyone else,” Sunu said. “Anit let him live in the mortal realm while he was too young to know what was right or wrong for an Ekho. I allowed it because she is his mother, and she thought it was right. When Tani returns to the Ekho Realm, he will stay with me, Cale. No one will interfere.”
“Is that what you wanted to tell me before the Septum meets?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard your wishes,” Cale said. “What of Tani’s wishes?”
Sunu kept his silence and shook his head.
“His wishes aside, his presence here will give us time to get to know each other,” Sunu said.
Cale shrugged.
Sunu had no idea how stubborn his son was. Tani Ryuzo would do what he wanted. After all, he had loved a mortal for nearly one thousand years and not given up hope. Cale scoffed and shook his head.
“You sent the sentinel to me,” Cale said, changing the subject.
“It seemed fitting,” Sunu said. “There are movements even I cannot decipher. Events happening that concern me.”
“Such as?” Cale asked.
“I first met Anit in a unique moment of crisis. She was in the Zona Forest bound by crawling vines. They were doing their best to squeeze the life out of her. I saved her. We fell in love and did not stop to think of why she would be in danger. Then calamity descended on us brought on by Anit’s transgressions. The fox clan wanted their ruler back. Their laws pulled her back to her clan’s lands. She took Tani with her, leaving me alone in the citadel. In what felt like a blink of my eyes, Tani grew up and bound his soul to a mortal.”
Sunu scoffed, going silent as he contemplated Tani’s decision.
“None of us could convince him it was a mistake,” Sunu said his voice heavy with grief. “So, he started a thousand-year trial in the mortal realm. I still did not question our family’s bad fortune.”
“You think there is a force behind the bad fortune?” Cale asked.
“Perhaps,” Sunu said, shaking his head. “A feeling has crept over me, the same way it has over the Sentinel. A hidden intent affecting both Anit and Tani. I cannot find what is hidden from my sight. Since any attempt on my part to find it results in its hiding, I believe we should allow it to come out in the open, encourage the intent, and make it feel safe. This is why I asked the sentinel to find you. You’re the only one who can have ambiguous intent. It is enough to uncover this unknown actor.”
“What shall the Septum know of this request?” Cale asked as they reached the only private courtyard in Sunu’s Citadel.
The private space was a round atrium with an open sky above. The walls of the citadel rose up on all sides and were covered with healthy Elderwood trees. Some days they were blooming, others like today the leaves of the trees covered every inch of the walls.
A massive hundred feet tall archway marked the entrance into the atrium. The pillars on each side carved with Ekho symbols marking the seven immortals allowed into the atrium. Water, Air, Fire, Earth, Wind, Calamity, the Fertility Goddess, and Sunu to govern them all.
Sunu stopped at the entrance.
“You shall only mention Sahdrina’s request,” Sunu said. “I will not offer my thoughts on the matter. Are we in agreement?”
Cale studied his brother.
Sunu’s eyes reminded him of Tani’s amber. He often wondered how Sunu managed to live a life of never seeing his son. Sunu had only seen the first five hundred of Tani’s three thousand and a hundred years old. After that, the tragic rules of the clans descended on a small family.
Tani left the citadel at five hundred, still a baby at the time. He lived with Anit, his mother, for a hundred in the fox clan, and then ended up in the mortal realm with Amu for the rest of his years.
No wonder Tani made the choice to love a human. He knew nothing of the wonders of his father’s citadel.
As for Anit, her broken heart left her bitter and unable to look at Sunu and Tani. She refused to meet or talk to them.
And Sunu…his position made it difficult to appear before his son. He relied on Cale’s stories to get to know his son.
Father and son, Cale could not decide which one had a more heartbreaking life.
“Yes,” Cale said when Sunu lifted a brow in question. “Let’s do it your way, brother.”
Sunu nodded and entered the archway. It lit up with gold light, similar to Tani’s power.
Cale smiled and followed his brother into the atrium. The pillars glowed black when he passed through them. The other five members of the Septum were already in attendance. They sat on throne chairs with tall backs and imposing curved headrests. The chairs stood on seven palladium pillars arranged in a circle to fit the atrium leaving space between. Sunu stood by his empty chair directly opposite Cale’s empty one.
Cale climbed his pillar turning his palladium pillar soot dark as he sat down. Sunu sat last, opening his arms wide in invitation for the meeting to start.
“A massive ripple of Ekho power startled those of our kind in the mortal realm earlier in the day,” Kinon of the fire said. “Is there a reason the little lordling was unbound, Cale?”
“Tani Ryuzo has cleansed black weed from the mortal realm,” Cale reported to the Septum. “The black weed grew deep in the land, spreading for almost fifteen acres. I needed to remove his cuffs to allow a cleansing.”
“Cale, I’m surprised you offered to remove the cuffs,” Helia, the fertility goddess of the Ekho realm said. She was revered by all for her ability to grant life and prosperity among all Ekho souls. She brought good fortune.
“I made no such offer,” Cale said, sitting back, elbows resting on the arms of his chair. He clasped his hands with a smirk. “Tani begged me to remove the cuffs.”
“I imagine,” Mizian, the god of air, said. “You enjoy the little lordling’s suffering too much.”
“It is my nature,” Cale said with a shrug.
“Did he manage to heal the earth?” Eren of the earth asked. Her voice filled with concern. “Should I pay a visit to the location to supplement his work?”
“He managed to cleanse the soil and heal it,” Cale said. “There were no traces left. You may visit if you wish. I’m sure he’ll be happy to know you cared enough.”
Rianon of the water scoffed.
“Don’t tease Eren,” Rianon said. “Tani Ryuzo is never happy to see any of us. We are the reasons he is bound to the mortal world and the cuffs on his wrists cause him pain at the moment.”
“His trial is almost over,” Kinon said. “He will forgive us when he returns to the Ekho Realm. He does not belong to the mortals no matter how much he loves them.”
Helia looked to Sunu who sat in silence. A frown graced her forehead as she studied the immortal lord.
“An infection large enough to need the little lordling’s cleansing is cause for concern,” Helia said after a moment. “Kara ot destroys life, Lord Sunu.”
“Cale,” Sunu said. “Kara ot grows most in the Dark Fort. Eren has done her best to cleanse it from our clans’ lands. Do you think someone from your fort might have taken it to the mortal realm?”
“I do not give passage to the gates to my people, nor do they wish to have it,” Cale said. “I’m the only one who has passed the palladium gates of late. The Kara ot in my Dark Fort dares not cling to my fine clothes. The clothes burn it off.”
“Hm,” Sunu said, studying him for a moment before he turned to the rest. “Eren, do you have suggestions? You’re the one who knows where it grows most.”
“I would like to point out that I have not managed to enter the fox clan’s lands for the past one thousand years,” Eren said. “The fox goddess Anit has closed the borders to anyone from the immortal clan, the elemental clans, and the Septum.”
“I have proof of this claim,” Kinon said. “She responds to requests from the immortal clan with burned Elderwood trees at the border. I have taken to smuggling elderberries from their territory through the dragon clan. She will only allow the dragons through.”
“Do you think kara ot would grow in her territory?” Mizian asked, studying Eren.
“It would,” Eren said. “However, Anit is a goddess, second only to Lord Sunu, and generates enough firepower to cleanse it.”
“The fox clan lands are not infested with kara ot, but they themselves live wilder than we do,” Kinon said.
“True, Anit is liberal with the passage at the palladium gates,” Rianon said, her disapproval clear. “There are enough foxes in the mortal realm to start a revolution if they so wanted. Their petty nature might have led to one taking it to the mortal realm.”
“How can we reach her?” Helia asked, shaking her head. Her long red flock dress was embroidered with gold threads that glittered as she shifted in her chair. “We used to be friends, but she has not reached out to me much in years.”
Sunu glanced at Cale.
“Cale, take Eren with you as you head back to the mortal world. She will inspect the location Tani cleansed. After, introduce her to Amu,” Sunu said. “Amu will know the condition of the fox clan lands. He might have a way for Eren to visit the fox clan lands.”
“Do you think Amu will listen to me?” Eren asked.
“He is a diplomat,” Cale said. “He will give you a chance to make your case.”
“We need to discover who would take black weed to the mortal realm and allow it to grow so large,” Kinon said. “That blight can wipe out an entire realm if left unchecked. It will not be good if the ekhos are responsible for the end of the human realm.”
“Agreed,” the others echoed.
“We’ll wait to hear your good news, Eren,” Mizian said.
“Speaking of news,” Cale said. “Sahdrina has requested my help. She seeks the identity of a veiled creature crossing the palladium gates with ambiguous intent. I told her I will bring it to the Septum before I give my answer.”
“The god of calamity fulfilling a sentinel’s request is unheard of,” Kinon said. “Why did she not ask any of us?”
“When was the last time you passed through the palladium gates?” Mizian asked with a chuckle.
Kinon sat back in his chair, his palladium tower burning hot as he bit his bottom lip.
Mizian shook his head at Kinon’s temper.
“Why did she not approach Lord Sunu?” Helia asked. “I passed the gates yesterday; she did not make a request of me?”
“Perhaps she is worried the ekho in question is dangerous,” Eren said. “It happens. None of us like confrontation.”
“I don’t mind confrontation,” Kinon said, with a scowl. “Mizian is always full of mischief. Not to mention Rianon who is always fighting with Mizian over the quantities of rain, wind, and the resulting floods. Eren, not everyone is as gentle as you.”
“Clearly, I was the only one she could approach,” Cale said then.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Rianon demanded, glaring at Cale, the water in her pillar turning turbulent.
“Sahdrina must have thought I’m the calmest of you lot,” Cale said, shaking his head. “Lord Sunu is saddled with a bunch of babbling teenagers in this Septum.”
“Say that again,” Kinon threatened, his eyes burning with fire.
“Just because I cannot drown you doesn’t mean I can’t fill your head with water, Cale,” Rianon scowled.
“We can always set the Dark Fort on fire,” Mizian said. “I’ll urge the flames to life so that you’re not able to turn it off.”
“If he manages to curb the fire, I’ll flood the fort,” Rianon said, getting up.
“Order,” Sunu said, his voice laced with power that had the lot of them quiet, and Rianon sitting. “Sahdrina’s request is made; the Septum must consent for Cale to answer her.”
“I consent,” Helia said, surprising Rianon.
“Me too,” Eren said, smiling at Cale. “Sahdrina must truly need help to have approached Cale.”
Kinon, Mizian, and Rianon held their silence for a moment, then Mizian cursed under his breath and nodded his consent.
“As long as Cale gives the name of this creature to the Septum, I consent,” Kinon said, leaving Rianon.
“Helia’s question remains. Aren’t you curious?” Rianon asked, her frown deepening as she studied Cale. “Why would Sahdrina approach Cale instead of Lord Sunu?”
“Cale travels the gates more often,” Mizian said. “He is the most conversant with the palladium gates. Sahdrina has seen a lot more of him than she has Lord Sunu.”
“Perhaps,” Rianon said, turning her gaze to Sunu. “My Lord, what do you think I should say?”
“I will not interfere with your decision,” Sunu said in answer.
Rianon frowned, but she turned to Cale. “I consent, as long the Septum gains the knowledge too.”
“It is decided then. Cale shall help the sentinel,” Sunu said, ending the discussion.
“What of the little lordling?” Helia asked. “He must be injured by the cuffs.”
“We cannot interfere,” Cale said, his dark gaze landing on Helia. “I still oversee the trial you placed on his shoulders. He shall endure the pain.”
“Truly, god of calamity never misses an opportunity to relish other people’s pain,” Kinon said, with a sigh.
“I will not apologize for my nature. I’ll remind you once again that I’m only carrying out this Septum’s wishes as directed by the five of you,” Cale said. “I did not decide to make the cuffs on the little lordling’s wrists bring him pain. You lot made those plans when Kinon forged the cuffs.”
Sunu closed his eyes because he had been unable to vote on Tani’s punishment. Nor was he allowed to interfere to ease Tani’s pain or bring him comfort in any way.
Cale was exempt from the decision too because of his relationship with Sunu.
The four elementals and the fertility goddess thus formulated Tani’s punishment and made Cale the executioner. He was the best warden to keep Tani in line. He had yet to forgive them. It was not pleasant watching Tani in pain, or watching his brother live a life without his son.
“If your questions are answered on the power released in the mortal realm, I will excuse myself,” Cale said, standing. “I have matters to attend to at the Dark Fort before I head back to the human realm.”
“The meeting is adjourned,” Sunu said, his tone low, strained.
Cale looked at him and sighed when Sunu simply disappeared from where he sat. “You claim my Dark Fort is full of ill intent. I wonder what you harbor in your elemental domains when you make such comments before Lord Sunu. Eren, I’ll meet you at the palladium gates tomorrow morning,” Cale said, and then with one last glare at Kinon, he left the atrium too.
Leave a comment