Dreaming

"The man must leave." The glittering asira'savi's musical voice was as sharp as a sword in its tone.

"But why?" The bold question had come from the white tigress.

The alien narrowed its sparkling eyes. "He is not of your people. For him to be here as the city rises would disrupt the process."

"Lies!" growled Panthro.

"Easy," hissed Tygra to the grey warrior.

"I will do as it wants," stated Dah'ri. The blonde man faced the Thunderans. "It is right. I really have no place here. I took you all to the mountain, and nothing came of it, except fear and mystery." A necessary lie, the man thought uncomfortably in his protection of the truth.

"Seven suns ago, it sent you there," Panthro snarled. "We still do not know the full reason for your quest. We have all just recovered from the shock of that expedition. We deserve an explanation!"

The air crackled with the alien's growing annoyance. "This discussion is not worth the loss of the city. Please, I will do as it commands," Dah'ri protested. He turned to the silent king. "Do you not agree, Lord Lion-o."

The youth held his gaze. His golden eyes searched his face deeply for meaning. He knows and understands that it is important for me to leave, Dah'ri thought, although he may not understand why. He will let me go.

"Tomorrow, at dawn, by the grace of the asira'savi, our new city will rise. Dah'ri, you will leave today for the house of Xerxes. I am sure the starborn will not mind if you help Nayda guard the unicorns until his return. I will send Cheetara to tell the warrior maiden to expect you," Lion-o commanded.

"I am sure the young lady would enjoy a break from her duties," Dah'ri agreed. "Perhaps Cheetara can take her to the villages across the River to gather fresh supplies. There is no telling when the starborn and your companions, Lynx-o and Chand'ra, will return with horses from Tabbia. If there is any problem with a unicorn, the starborn magic Xerxes placed upon Nayda's brow will inform her. There is no need for her to be bound to the house. She can stay away for a day or so."

The asira'savi scales turned electric blue in pleasure. It had gotten what it wanted. "At dawn, architect," it said to Tygra before vanishing.

"At dawn," the tiger sighed, uncertainty in his voice.

"No telling what to expect," Panthro muttered.

"A city," Dah'ri answered with resignation. But what will be asked of Tygra and Talitha, he cannot imagine, the man decided. What is required from me, is known only to me, and that is how it must be.

*****

Dah'ri thanked Irri'in, who had come to him when the god he had once served could not. The warrior woman and the cheetah had heeded his advice, and had journeyed across the River. The service he needed to perform had to be done alone, and in listening to him, they had opened the way.

The blonde man studied the flames in the fireplace as if trying to burn his memories, for they gave him no comfort or strength. That night on the mountain, the Thunderan god had returned all that had been lost to him, but he had kept it from the others. The mystic may have suspected, but she had afforded him his privacy.

Irri'in knew the future: if unchecked, Mumm-Ra would destroy the new city as it appeared from nothing. The asira'savi faced danger, hard as that might be to imagine. Tygra, with Talitha as his shield, would have to merge his mind with the alien for the city to rise. In that union all would be vulnerable to attack. Annihilation was what Mumm-Ra had planned.

Dah'ri sipped his wine, savoring the flavor and the warmth that followed. The god had a surprise for the undead sorcerer. By restoring his memory, Irri'in had insured that he was equipped to battle Mumm-Ra. The cost would be great, but he accepted his destiny. Panthro and the asira'savi had been right. He did not belong. With death would come oblivion, and that he now sought more than life.

*****

Dah'ri scooped water from the River and let it cascade over his body in the grey light before dawn. The cold fluid awakened and refreshed him, but more importantly, cleansed him. Each drop that descended, and each ripple that flowed outward, took away the people, places and gods of his former life.

Final pleasures tasted the sweetest. At day's end, he would feel no more. This time there would be no priest of great power to restore him to life as in days long past. At death's point he had seen only nothingness. What had come after he never remembered. A ray of light finally brightened the sky. May the gods protect you, Tygra and Talitha, he thought as he emerged from the River.

Dah'ri dried himself with a large square of cloth, then donned some new garments that Talitha had given him. Offset by black trousers, the blue tunic appeared richer than the sky in color. He eased his feet into soft leather boots. He hung around his neck the special jewel that allowed him to converse with those whose language he did not know.

The man knelt on a small rug that had intricate writing woven into its geometric design of red and black, and waited. The wind rose slightly. The clearing by the River grew quiet. The air vibrated with power. A city would soon appear in the west.

It did not take long for the darkness to challenge the light. The gigantic form of the undead priest Mumm-Ra marred the sky. He flew west toward the Lair, the winds ruffling his kirtle, and the few bandages adhering to his crown.

"Seti!" Dah'ri shouted. Irri'in had given him the creature's true name, and that knowledge attracted his attention.

Mumm-Ra slowed and glanced down. His words were fast and clipped with derision. "What insect dares call my name!"

"This priest!" Dah'ri challenged.

The mummy tilted his blue head slightly, surprised that someone had the audacity and the stupidity to respond. "Then die!" the creature roared.

The moment the mummy raised his hand, Dah'ri spoke his incantation. The blast of energy the creature hurled struck the field of light that protected him, and dissipated harmlessly. It was important for Mumm-Ra to get closer. Only then could he use the one spell that would mark the creature's doom, but take his own life as payment.

Mumm-Ra's red eyes darkened to scarlet fire. "The insect has tricks," he cackled, as he descended to the earth. "If not from above then below," he howled, making mad gestures.

The ground beneath Dah'ri's feet vibrated. "Skyward!" Dah'ri shouted, and levitated before the skeletal hands that punctured the ground could grab him. "Begone!" he spat, and the bones turned to dust as he floated back to the earth.

The undead priest stepped back as if the man's words had also compelled him to move. Rage gripped the creature as he realized that they had. With a maddened shriek, the mummy raced toward Dah'ri.

With each heartbeat, he measured the decreasing distance between him and the undead being. At the right moment in time, he locked his hands, fingers steepled, and spoke softly the words that would end Mumm-Ra's existence and his own. Rainbow light arched from his body and struck the advancing mummy. Dah'ri fed each bolt with his life. The light cut Mumm-Ra as he continued to advance. Each ray tore his rotted flesh until the creature became bone and fetid, dripping organs. Only his insane fury propelled him forward. Dah'ri dropped to his knees, then fell onto his back as his life force dwindled, yet the decomposing thing that was Mumm-Ra still advanced.

With hands aged to the end of life, Dah'ri begged in supplication, "Irri'in!"

Mumm-Ra's ravaged red eyes gleamed in triumphal madness. He raised his bony arm to strike.

The cry of the damned shook the trees, and the creature retreated. The mummy spoke words that the stone could not translate and disappeared.

Dah'ri felt something on his open palm. "A blue rose?" he whispered as his life faded.