men of change chapter 3

now that they have reached the city of Acklan, Allahn and his master go to the Sheo queen to find out more about this dark creature that nearly ended Allahn's life.

chapter 3

　

Allahn sat in his mind replaying what happened in his head trying to figure out what had attacked him. He questioned how he got seperated from his master. How the creature was able to live through so much unphased. He questioned his questions he was so confused and shocked.

Eventually he could feel his body again. It started in his chest and then his back. His arms and legs ached terribly. His neck was sore from being held for so long by the creature. No doubt the rest was from the fall. His skin was not on the ground where he fell, but in a softer place. After a moment his hands and feet remembered he was in a bed. It seemed to be a very comfortable bed at that. He began to open his eyes. The light was so bright it burned and gave him a headache. He slowly inched them open until he could make out where he was. The walls of the room were a dark brown color. The faint red tint of the brown was a prevailent thing in the style of the room. His eyes glanced about and surveyed more about this new atmosphere. He heard faint voices. He could see figures clustered in the room. Not to many, but just enough to bother him. All of the figures sounded like a whispering chior. Standing over him and singing about how broken he must have looked. A familiar voice joined the almost whispering chorus and then broke straight through to him.

"Allahn my boy, you are awake at last." He said pushing through the group and sitting down beside Allahn's bed.

He could see a small tip of emotion showing in his master's eyes. It actually surprised him to see his master in such a state. Allahn decided he would reply at last. His chest hurt on the first breath, but he continued with his words.

"Master where are we?What happened to the black creature that attacked us." Allahn asked after giving up trying to guess where he was. He looked around the room. The sun was shining brightly into the room. Allahn could see the corner of the sister world in the window far away through the trees. The way the room looked let him know that he was at least somewhere in the Sheo cities.He just had no clue where.

"We are in the Capital city of the Sheo forest. We are safe here my young apprentice. You have nothing to fear anymore." he said giving Allahn a playful nudge. Even though Allahn knew it was a playful nudge that still did not change the fact that it hurt. He whinced a little and looked back at his master. He remembered how curious he was about the situaton.

"What happened after I went out?" Allahn asked, wanting to get right back to business. He was glad he was safe but very angry that he was hurt, and intended to find out more about what happened.

"Well," Quelon's  expressions changed from happy and slightly concerned to serious and hard.

"As soon as I lit the fire all around us I heard you say you were there and you sounded fine. I saw something move a little past the fire and I set it ablaze. When I did it let out a screech so loud it made my head rattle. I turned to make sure you were alright and you were no longer there." There was no lie in his master's eyes. Allahn did not expect him to lie, but he did not know what to expect to hear.

"I was gone?" Allahn said letting his head droop a bit.

"Yes, you were gone and I did not know where to begin looking for you. I waited for whatever was there to attack but it never did. I let the fire die down and waited for something to happen. Eventually a group of the Sheo was sent to investigate the light from my fire." Quelon looked down into his lap and continued.

"When I told them what happened they immeadiatly started searching for you and found you very quickly. Let us be thankful they found you when they did." As he started his next sentence someone interupted him.

"Yes, Master Ohlomos, a few more minutes and your apprentice could have died." The voice was familiar to Allahn. He heard it in the tree with the creature. It was the woman who distracted the creature and allowed Allahn to break free. Allahn did his best to bow forward.

"Thank you for coming to my aid when you did." Allahn said grunting as he bowed in gratitude. He looked back up and saw more than just the woman. Three people stood before him. It was the woman that saved him and two other men. The one on her right was taller than Allahn. He had shorter hair and was very muscular. He had three gemstones in his face as well. His were different colors than the womans. While the other was quite different. He was a little shorter than Allahn. His body more defined but not as much as the other man. His three gemstones were all one color. While Allahn was studying them the woman stepped forward.

"There is no reason to bow young one. I might have come when you needed me but you still saved yourself. You are truly couragous. Whatever attacked you was very strong it took all three of us to drive it away." she wasn't wearing her armor anymore. She was in normal clothing for the Sheo.

Sheo villagers wore a long piece of cloth around their body. It was the first layer of clothing that all of the Sheo people had to wear. This cloth was called the Shi-kali. This long piece of cloth was wrapped around the body to show rank and autority. The higher a citizen of the Sheo people was, the more of their body was covered by the Shi-kali. Allahn knew this and quickly glanced about them. He was still wanting to know more about the situation and where he was. He could only see parts of their Shi-kali under their clothes. From the shoulders down they were wrapped up with it. This told Allahn that they were of some importance to the Sheo people. He knew that they were warriors, but they must have been warriors from a more elite guard.

"I am Iim-bara,Commander of Queen Gano's royal guard. It is good to see you are recovering. Are you well enough to move yet?" she asked taking a step forward to the bed. She had a on robe-like garment that flowed closely behind her. It fit tighty to her body but looked natural on her as if it were made just for her. The men to her sides were the same way. The only difference was the colors between them.

Allahn thought about her question for a moment. The pain in his chest and back were still somewhat new, and his limbs still felt slightly numb. He looked at his master.

"I think I am. What do you think master? do you think I am well enough to shuffle around." Allahn chuckled painfully, realizing his ribs also took a beating on the way down from the tree.

" I have yet to see the council about our mission if you would like to join me and get some air you are more than welcome." he said with a weak smile. Allahn could see the discomfort in Quelon's eyes. He hated seeing his apprentices bloodied and broken.

"As important as that meeting may be to the council, the queen has requested your presence. That is what I have come for. She wishes to speak with Allahn personally about the beast in the forest." Iim intergected quickly before Allahn could answer.

" So soon? Why now? I thought she would not have anything else for two more days?" Quelon had a very confused look about him.

"What are you talking about master?" Allahn asked sitting up further in his bed. He wheezed a little more.

" Well, the queen does not know what attacked us. None of the Sheo had actually seen the creature until they caught it attacking you. We captured it after rescuing you and now the queen is studying it. She wants to hear your side of the story since you had the most contact with it." he looked at Allahn with a deep concern. He did not think it was wise to be around the creature in such a injured state.

" I will go." Allahn said immediatly. The more determined side of his mind wanted to do whatever he could to help the Sheo keep the creature contained.

"Very well, I shall inform the queen of your decision. Master Ohlomos will show you to the queen's study." Iim bowed low and left the room. The two beside her bowed and left seconds later witout muttering a word. There robes fluttered after them obediently.

" Are you sure you can move?" Quelon said sitting in a chair by the bed.

" Yes, I will be fine. My body will mend, and quickly thanks to the Sheo medicene. Just give me a moment to get up." Allahn smiled and began to stretch his arms. They were stiff and sore from lack of movement.

" How long have I been in this bed?" he asked grunting while he stretched.

" You have been unconscious for almost four days now. The doctors said your body was so weak that they did not think you would recover so quickly. The creature drained alot out of you and it made it harder for you to heal." Quelon stood and helped Allahn stand.

His arms felt far better than his legs. His legs did not feel broken but he had not moved them in days and they were weak. He swayed and tripped over his feet a few times ,but soon his legs regained some of their former strength and he was moving once again.

"You always have bounced back quickly. That is one thing I admire about you Allahn." his master watched him carefully to keep him from tumbling to the floor.

"It feels good to move." Allahn said sarcastically through the pain of his injuries.

They walked through the doors onto the balcony outside.

The air was fresh and crisp. Allahn took in a deep breath and looked out over the city.

The Sheo did their best to treat the forest with as much respect as possible. They would only cut down trees if it was needed. Many buildings were built around the trees, using the tree itself as support. Many hallowed out the trees and built homes inside of them. Some places were even built high on the trees to save space. The buildings themselves were sleek and smooth. All the structures were simple in design. Only people of higher status had more complicated buildings. Allahn and his master looked down from the balcony. Allahn had been brought to the Capital city of Acklan. The Sheo lived in cities all over Lanitos, but their Queen resided here in Acklan. Off in the distance the queens palace shined in the sunlight. Its structure went high above the trees. It was made of shimmering crystal-like metal that all of their buildings were made of. The buildings all gleamed in the light of the day. It was a beautiful sight and Allahn loved to just see the city. After a few moments they turned and began to decsend the stairs. Allahn hobbled down and down the winding stairs. The trees in the forest there grew thick and tall. Some of the trees had been growing since the time of the ancients. The Sheo took no shame in building on these trees. The queen's palace was built on the oldest tree in the city.

Quelon walked ahead of Allahn until they reached the bottom. The streets were evenly paved and well cared for. People were moving about tending to their daily lives, unaware of Allahn's situation. Mothers walked with children, others walked with friends.A few walked with different animals, and some simply walked alone. The number of people grew as they came closer to the city center. It was bustling in every direction. Carts of supplies sped in and out in every way. Allahn was still moving slow behind his master. They past by many shops and stores along the way.

Carefully placed plants and trees doted the roads and sidewalks. Allahn had been in a Sheo town before, but had never been to one so busy. All of the people made Allahn a little uncomfortable. Yet, at the same time it was a bit nice. These people lived in such a close environment. It was likely that many of the people rushing around knew one another. There was a friendly air about the city. The Sheo here also seemed very healthy. There were no beggars or homless roaming the streets. It was clean and very well kept.

Allahn noticed all of this as he hobbled by. He could not hide the astonishment from anyone.

"It is amazing is it not?" Quelon said with a smile. Allahn looked about once more.

"Yes, I just do not understand how things stay so beautifull. Is it always like this?" Allahn asked as they turned a street corner.

"It is always this way, yes. The people of Acklan have an easy way of life here. No war has ever found its way to this city. It has never been stained by the blood of its own people. All is well and it will stay that way." Quelon stopped and looked down the street. They now looked ahead at the front of the palace.

"The queen calls that place her home?" Allahn asked looking up at it from a distance. The palace from his bedside balcony was large enough. Now that they were a short walk from the front, it was gargantuan.

"Yes, that is the palace of the Neva-Su Acklan. Lady Gano, the queen of the Sheo people lives there. She is very wise,and powerful. She is also a very persistent study. No doubt she has been at the creature's side all this time learning all that there is to know about it. She will work relentlessly until there is nothing left to know about it." Quelon said, gazing at the palace.

"Wow, I wonder what she has learned so far?" Allahn said, starting to walk forward. He was desparetly eager to see the creature again. He wanted to know more about its power and where it came from. He shared in the queens thirst for knowledge.Yet,he feared to lay eyes on it again. He was afraid of what would happen if it opened its terrible eyes again. So much doubt and uncertainty clouded his jugdement. He felt so conflicted but he ignored his feelings and hobbled on.

"Now there are a few things you must know about the queen Allahn." Quelon said as they came closer to the palace. Allahn listened intently.

" You must be careful how you address her. Since you have information on the creature she will act very informal with you. Just remember that you are in the presence of a queen. Do not call her by name if she tells you her name. Address her as mistress Gano, if you wish to be less than formal. Oh and try not to touch anything. This is a very old palace and things are fragile." Quelon paused and thought about things Allahn should know.

"Is that all?" Allahn chuckled as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"I believe so, just be polite Allahn." he said as they ascended the stairs.

Allahn did his best to hide the pain of his injuriues as they climbed the stairs.

He grunted quietly and whinced until they finally reached the large door into the palace. Tall strong armored guards stood at the sides of the door. Quelon bowed slightly as they entered, Allahn did the same. The palace's interior was even more beautifull than the outside. Intense colors adorned the walls that stetched higher than Allahn could see. The atmosphere felt so calm and serene inside the walls of the palace. After walking some ways into the palace a short well dress man walked up to them.

Allahn bowed with his master and stood tall.

"May I ask what your business is here?" he said not looking up for the small stack of papers in his hands.

"We are here to see the queen. I am Master Ohlomos of Relan and this is my apprentice Allahn. The queen has requested our presence." he said calmy and clearly. At the word Relan the man perked up.

He was shorter than Allahn , and had darker skin than most of the Sheo. He had the three gemstones as well. His were all yellow, and his eyes were a light grey color. Allahn wondered silently what the signifigance was of the colors of the gemstones.

"Ah yes I was told to be expecting you. The queen is in the lower parts of the sealing quarters. She has been rushing between the libraries in the tower and her quarters for the past few days. Maybe your visit will shed more light on our lady's research, and put here to a bit of ease" the man said looking Allahn and his master up and down.

"If you'll just follow me please I will take you to her." he said turning and walking away.

He led them to a door way in the wall father in the palace.

"Master what are the sealing quarters?" Allahn asked as they walked.

"The sealing quarters are where we house prisoners. The queen herself does all of the sealing. Once anyone or anything makes it into there not even the council can say anything. That is the queen's own little plane of reality." the man said to them without turning. He turned and waited for Allahn. He was still slow in his injured state. He walked into the doorway and began to decsend more stairs. It became dim within the hall, only lit by a few torches. When they reached the bottom they came to a large open room. Many decorative doors led out of the room. There were seven in all.

The small man turned to us and gestured to the door in the middle.

"The creature is in that room. I do not know if the queen is there at the moment. Please show yourselves inside. I am sure our lady will be happy to see you both." he said quickly. He then scuttled past them and out of the room.

"Well, lets get in there." Quelon said with a serious look, as he started towards the door.

"You think she will be in there?" Allahn asked as they approached.

"There is only one way to find out." his master opened the door slowly and walked inside.

When they closed the door behind them Allahn was amazed once again.

It was a large circular room. In the center was a deep black hole. Floating over the whole was a glass ball. It was big enough to fit at least five men in. Inside there sat a haunting sight. The creature from the forest sat in the bottom the the glass ball. It sat very still. It gave no sign of noticing anything that was going on outside its clear prison. They walked towards it and could only stare at it.

"How did they capture it in this?" Allahn asked gazing in at the figure.

" It attacked with fire. When it did I helped the Sheo warriors encase it in sand. When we did that it just thought it would blast its way out. You can see how well that worked for him." Quelon laughed a bit at his own words.

The ball itself was smooth. It was perfectly round and it looked very thick.

"Well you did a great job at catching it but how did you keep it in there?" Allahn asked remembering that he could not do any harm to the creature.

"That was not of my doing. The Sheo excel at sealing magic. We brought it here and the queen sealed it with her own magic." he said stepping back and looking over the whole of his trap.

They continued to look about when another voice joined them.

"Ah master Ohlomos you have arrived with your apprentice. How is he recovering?" the voice said. It was a rich sounding voice. They both turned to see the queen entering the same door they had.

She had a glow about her. She approached them and looked at each and smiled.

"He is recovering well, he is still in a lot of pain but he will live. He is strong and resilliant." Quelon bowed low, Allahn tried his best to bow with him. He struggled and only got half as far as his master. He whinced in pain but remained bowed.

The queen walked up and lifted Allahn's head with her fingers.

"You do not have to bow to me if it causes you that much suffering." she said looking deep into Allahn's eyes.

He stared back in awe at her. She was more beautiful than any other Sheo woman he had seen. She had the gemstones in her face, yet hers were much different than what he had already seen. He counted at least thirteen shining stones in her face. When she spoke to him her voice filled his head with sweet thoughts. And the air about her was warm and inviting. She had long robes on thatfloated on behind her. Every movement coaxed another from her clothes. Allahn saw her Shi-kali. It was wrapped all over her body. It stopped just below her chin and the entirity of it was speckled with jems. She had an elaborate head of hair. Though it hung free from her head it was combed and shiny, and it sported many jeweled pieces that held her hair out of her face. Allahn could feel how stupid he looked while staring at her. He said finally.

"Yes my lady." said Allahn a little entranced.

"What have you discovered of this dark creature?" his master said snapping Allahn from his trance.

"Sadly not nearly as much as I thought. I have combed through every document in both of my libraries, and I have found nothing on this particular being." She said pulling away from Allahn and glaring into the glass ball. She had a very intense look in her eyes. Allahn watched as she began to explain.

"The creature itself has made no attempt to communicate with me. It is not clear what its purpose is here. I do not even know where it came from. The creature is completely new to myself and this land." she said walking away from the glass ball. She headed for a table set up near the edge of the room. She rumaged around through books and papers on the table for a moment. She picked up a small piece of paper.

"This is the only thing I have on this creature, and I honestly do not think this person is alive anymore." she said giving the paper to Quelon.

He looked at it and then gave an odd look.

" No face, no mouth,no nose and no skin. It is devoid of all human sublties.Only touched by surprise, and completely silent.As black as the night and as cold as death.Fear the vessel." he read aloud. He looked back at the creature.

"How do we know that this is what talking about? It could be anything. This paper looks old enough to crumble to dust." Quelon said with an annoyed look.

"I do not know what to do. It is quite literally driving me out of sanity. I have not ever been this devoid of knowledge about anything!" she said with and angry and frantic tone.

"But, you." she said perking up and looking at Allahn.

" You have been so close to it. It has held you in its grasp. You have vital information about the creature that you must tell me." she said grinning. She walked over to Allahn. As she did two chairs drifted away from the table. "You must be tired and sore. Sit and regale me with your traumatic tale." she said sitting down in the chair. It fell perfectly beneath her. The other floated behind Allahn. He sat down and started to retell the story.

The queen listened very intently to Allahn. Her eyes widened and she nearly came out of her seat a few times during the telling of the tale.

Allahn began to speak about the creature's and the queens changed again. Allahn ended the tale with his unconsciousness just as it had happened not to many days ago.

" Master Ohlomos hand me that note." she said standing up and holding her hand out. She took the paper carefully from Quelon and looked it over.

"Did anything I said mean anything?" Allahn asked still sitting in the chair. He hoped that he had been some form of helpful. The queen aid nothing for a long while. She just stared at the note and mumbled things under her breath.

"You said that it told you to surrender your vessel did you not?" she finally said breaking her silence.

She had an odd look in her eyes. It was as if her thoughts were unfinished, incomplete, and fragmented.

"Yes, my lady Gano. But, it would be more truth to say that it asked me to surrender. It did not speak in a command. It spoke as though nothing were happening. Is something wrong?" Allahn watched the queen 's face changed and shifted through different looks. She seemed angry then she seemed shocked and then she seemed confused and the process continued.

"The only reasonable answer I can say for this creature does not have much reason behind it." she said walking over to the creature's prison. All three of them gazed into the glass with the most unshakable curiosity. Inside the glass the black creature still remained still and quiet.

"May I say a few things?" Quelon said with a renewed sense of the situation.

"Yes, Master Ohlomos?" she said not looking away from the glass.

"Let us examine some of the facts again." he said looking at me.

"Very well, elaborate." she said glancing over at him.

"Let us think about the reasons behind this creature's presence here.

Why did it go after my apprentice instead of attacking me? Why not just stroll into your city and come for you? I think there is a special reason it went after Allahn." he poked at the mystery and gained the queen's attention.

"Perhaps it has something to do with the "vessel" he spoke of !" she said clapping her hands together.

"Yes, it could have come for me but realized that I am old and fragile. My "vessel" is weak, but I am very powerful. It must have somehow known what Allahn was and saw his strong young "vessel" and it decided!" he said in a raised tone. The mood of the room began to change. An excitment rose in the Queen's eyes as they began to unravel the creature's intent. 

" So it needed a new body?" Allahn asked affirming his uncertainty.

" Yes, the creature needed your body. Yet, why did it need your body at all? the Queen said beginning to pace around the prison.

"Maybe the creature could become more powerful if it was to take a new body." Quelon scratched at his beard and looked down in thought. 

"But that still does not answer the the question as to why it needs a new body in the fisrt place." the queen said as her excitment turned to curiosity once more.

As they fumbled around in the question Allahn watched the creature in the glass ball. It still just sat there seeming unaware of all the commotion about it. 

Allahn had questions of his own that sat and festeres in his mind. Where did it come from? Why did it need his body. Why it asked him to surrender rather than just killing him and taking it. So many unanswered questions that desperatly needed to be resolved. 

As he stared things began to change in his mind.  The bustle of the Queen's and his master's puzzling started to fade away. Utter silence captivated him. Suddenly he realized he could no longer sever his gaze from the creature. A pressure began to fill him. The air felt heavier and the  lights around him dulled. He felt a familiar presence in the room. As he watched the creatures head turned towards him breaking the stillness of the moment.

He felt a small pull.

His eyes closed without his knowing. In the darkness he was surprised to see the glass. Even though his eyes were closed he could see it. In the glass there began a soft glow. It was so tiny at first. Instantly it flashed and nearly blinded Allahn. When he could at last see again there was someone in the glass.

He was tall and strong looking. He had elaborate looking robes on that made the Queen's dress seem ugly. His eyes were closed and his head was pointed up slightly. The air in this reality was completly still. As if no one was breathing or living at all. 

Allahn yearned to speak. To say something to interrupt the silence. Then as if reading his thoughts the man spoke.

"You wish to know don't you?" he asked with his eyes still closed.  Allahn felt release and could speak again.

"I want to know what?" he asked quickly.

"Go ahead, ask me anything." he said lowering his chin. His eyes began to open. As they did Allahn immeadiately remembered the eyes. The unnaturally blue eyes stared deeply at him. The two gold strips in the same place as before. It was the creature's eyes but now  there was a face covering the blackness.

Allahn swiftly decided which question to ask.

"Who are you?" he asked "What are you? Why are you here?" the questions spilled forth and he could not stop them. "Why do you need my body?"  he asked finally.

The man held his hand up and Allahn could no longer ask questions. It was as if the very breath had been stolen away from him.

"I will answer all in time my boy. Firstly, My name is not very important at present. As for my purpose here. I have come to find a more suitable vessel for my spirit. This one is crumbling even as we speak. I came here in this body looking for one that is more durable and would last longer. So will you not relinquish your body to your creator and allow me to return to this world?" he spoke with a voice even more terrible than the creature. It not only filled Allahn's body but arrested his every muscle in terror. Allahn felt such an evil in it that he could do nothing but shudder. 

He could feel himself being pulled towards him. At that same moment he could hear faint voices. They were distance but coming closer. As they advanced towards him he could feel control of his body returning. He could speak again. 
" Who are you?" he shouted as he could feel himself falling. 

The man looked deeply into his eyes as he spoke.

"Kazanant." He said as he closed his eyes and vanished into the darkness in the glass. Then the world returned to normal. Allahn looked around. He was on the floor. He had fallen over. His master and the Queen were sitting over him asking if he was alright.

"What happened to you?" the queen asked with much concern in her eyes. 

"He spoke to me again." he said standing up with a grunt.

"What did he say?" Quelon asked.

Allahn quickly explained what had happened to him.

The Queen's face warped through many feelings as he spoke. His master just looked axious.

"So he told you his name?" the Quenn asked. 

"Yes, it was Kazanant i think." he said looking back into the glass. The creature still just sat there. 

"Master Quelon, do you know that name? Could it possibly be an Utura?" she asked walking over to the glass prison once more.

"No my lady, this is not anything I have ever seen or heard of." Quelon said helping Allahn to a chair.

"Well now that we know that this body of his is going to pieces it will not be long before the whatever is holding on to the body will dissipate. Then it will be no more. It ends here!" she said with a splash of anger and triumph.

She turned to Allahn and somewhat smiled. 

There was a short pause. Allahn had just caught his breathe when the Queen began to speak. "Well Allahn it would seem that-" Quelon stopped her and pointed at the creature. 

Inside the glass it was standing up. It leaned its head back and twiitched slightly. It opened its eyes and stared at the three of them. Then the blackness of the creature began to peel and flake into a murky black cloud. As it filled the glass prison it began to shake. 

"Alright get ready, I am going to open it." the Queen said taking a few steps back and raising up her hands. 

She threw her hands back and Allahn heard the door lock.

She thrust her hands back at the glass and fire spilled forth at it. She burned it until there was a large red spot in front of her on the glass. 

"Ready?" she said looking at Allahn and his master.

"Yes my lady." Quelon said stepping forward a bit. Allahn followed his lead and lifted his fist ready to join in on whatever was about to happen.

The Queen nodded and twisted a hole open in the glass. 

The black cloud inside did not move. 

"I'm going to release the seal and let it out." 

There was a stiff feeling about the room as the Queen lifted her fingers. With a snap there was a flash and Smoke poured from the glass prison. It surged out and engulfed the three of them. In the blackness Allahn could here whispers and thought he would be taken again into trance. At that moment they heard beating on the door. It was the guards coming ta the sound of danger. 

"Do not open that door!" the Queen shouted.

Her request was ignored and the door shattered open. Instantly the smoky cloud began to disperse It billowed out the door. The Queen shouted in anger as the cloud of Kazanant escaped. As quickly as it had filled the room it had gone.