Part XII

His breath came in huge gulps, sucking in the stale rotten air from the lower levels as he tried to gather his composure. Each tile covering the dimly lit floor had been hand crafted to depict a different symbol or scene that Etian did not recognize but as the days, hours and minutes passed his brain slowly began to try and make some sense of them. He lay motionless. Studying the tile closest he committed it to memory wanting to describe it in full detail to Anu’Lian later if they both survived.

Across the sea of blood-stained flooring three creatures stood together caught up in tense conversation pausing only briefly to look over Etian before returning to their argument. He could not understand any of the words they used but he knew the looks they gave were to size him up for some kind of combat.

‘Auglshah bibv nglooozzss.’ One of the three shouted pointing towards Etian.

Two large humanoids covered in crudely fashioned armor shuffled through the dust and drops of blood gathering him between them before carrying him back to the prison level. Draped over one of the large men Etian could see through the small viewing slats cut into the doors of each cell. He counted at least twenty-five sets of eyes before the guard tossed him to the floor of his own cell slamming the door shut behind.

Anu’Lian let out a long sigh watching as Etian rolled from the floor to the bunch of straw and mud he called a bed.

‘I see they let you live another day.’ He said sitting up to look over Etian’s wounds.

‘They are testing me for… something.’ Etian replied exhaling loudly. ‘We should discuss the tile while it is fresh in my mind.’

Anu’Lian watched him draw every detail he could remember into the dirt covering the cell floor and then they sat in silence for a long time while he considered what it could mean.

When Etian felt he could wait no longer he broke the silence between them. ‘What do you think it means?’

Anu’Lian slowly opened his eyes and began to explain. ‘The tile is made up of three main symbols. The first symbol is the blue star.’

Etian interrupted him. ‘Do you mean the circle with the small splashing wave in it?’

Anu’Lian nodded and continued. ‘The second symbol is that of… destiny is the best word I know to describe it, a crossing of paths or ways; a union of opposing sides possibly. This is represented with the overlapping triangles. The third symbol is most perplexing.’

‘You do not know this one?’ Etian pondered aloud, his head tilted in question.

‘I recognize it is in the pattern of a symbol but it is not one I know. I do not speak these creatures language nor understand their script. They have never taken me to one such a room as you speak but I believe it is not of their invention and actually one of our creations.’ Anu’Lian answered coldly.

He cleared his throat before continuing. ‘Your uncle may have only known wanderers but the builders are just as strong and wise as any of those who seek to understand the depths of our world through the eyes of journey and knowledge. Our creations have powered this system for centuries and have upheld the fragment of reality you all believe to be so important.’

‘What would a floor like this be used for? What is the purpose of carving all of the tiles?’ Etian asked through the dim light of the cell.

‘We are not to give details of such things to outsiders… but under the circumstances I see no reason to keep our secrets any longer.  The same silver metal that is broken into tiny slivers beneath your skin can be used in ways you have never imagined. Right now it flows through your veins pooling at the connection tips awaiting something new to bond with and I do mean waiting. It may not be able to speak but it does have a presence.’ Anu’Lian bowed his head as he paused to take a breath.

‘I believe this room is made from a solid block of Allon. I… thought it was just legend… but I believe you have been taken these few days to the room of telling. What that means is if I am right we are somewhere very few people know exist; a place as old as the life on our planet.’ Anu’Lian finished speaking and closed his eyes to think.

‘Where are we then, Anu’Lian?’ Etian cautiously asked.

‘You have spoken of the events at Genoha.’ He began. ‘Genoha serves as a pivot point of sorts for many different energies flowing through our world and I believe we are at the polar opposite. Try not to see it all as good or evil but as two necessary sides constantly pushing against each other to maintain the required motion for life.’

‘What of the last symbol?’ Etian posed to Anu’Lian.

‘A large disc encompassing a man wielding two blades with three distinct markings covering his face set center in the tile larger than the others; is this what you saw exactly?’ Anu’Lian replied and awaited his answer.

‘Yes, exactly what I saw. I know it.’

‘The message I decode from this… It is you, Etian. I see you standing atop our world on a course for the blue star.’ Anu’Lian said concentrating on the image in his mind.

‘Why would anything related to me be down here? Why is that the tile I would find? This is all leaning towards some kind of lunacy.’ He declared as frustration began to show on his orange skin.

‘The room is made to show you what you need to see. Each viewer sees something different. That is why you see them arguing each day. They are trying to predict something.’ Anu’Lian said soothing the scruffy beard covering his chin.

‘What does it mean?’

‘I can only interoperate the visuals. I cannot do anything more.’ Anu’Lian lay back onto his make-shift sleeping pad. ‘We need to rest. They will return soon.’

Etian nodded and tried to sleep but thoughts raced through his mind in wonderment at all he had heard.

Outside of the cell door, down the hall and across the way through another of the slats Tosh whispered to Talin. ‘That was him. I know it.’

‘Be quiet, boy. Piet will find him if he is here. Just be glad they have left us alone in this cage so far. If that is Etian I worry we will not get to him in time.’ Talin responded sitting up to survey the passage through the small opening.

He watched as Tosh eagerly devoured the bread scraps the beasts had thrown in for the two of them and suppressed a slight chuckle at the grumbling in his own stomach. He focused his mind on the task at hand and quieted the emptiness inside his gut as he channeled warming energy out through his extremities. Talin peered through the darkness of the hall wondering who else might be locked up down here in this dungeon of death and dampness. From around the corner Piet stalked between the slivers of light cast by torches from above slinking through the shadows towards the holding cell.

‘He is here.’ Piet whispered through the slat. ‘He is on a level below us under heavy guard.’

‘I knew it! I saw him earlier!’ Tosh exclaimed before Talin could quiet him with a glare.

‘Sorry.’ He said apologizing before Talin responded to Piet. ‘We need our weapons and a plan.’

‘Give me until the next guard change.’ He replied disappearing around the corner once more.

Tosh gently unwrapped the torn sleeve covering the large gash on his right arm and thought back to the day previous when the three of them came bursting through the teleport pad. He recalled the slow white and green flux of energy that surrounded him like millions of twinkling stars as he stretched through time and space. He burst through the other side into a large room of fighting men, massive barbed clubs swinging at Talin and Piet as he stumbled to clear his eyes of the cascading dots that clouded his vision. The barb tore through his arm so easily and retracted back into the abdomen of what looked like a club before he fell, Talin rushing in to protect him as Piet smashed through the barricade of flesh and armor into the dank prison surrounding them. The cut in his pale skin burned as he drained some of the fluid from it and wrapped it tightly again.

‘Get some rest while Piet works.’ Talin commanded Tosh before lying back onto the bundle of old rags beneath him.

Within moments Tosh drifted off to slumber as Talin watched over them preparing for the fight to come. He closed his eyes and concentrated on rebuilding the layout of the many different passages they had been brought down visualizing each guard post and choke-point.