The Emerging Part I: Dream

Uxxok glances at Teqqc using his peripherals. He observes how her porcelain skin is complimented well by the dark gray clothing she now wears. The memory coercing her into buying darker clothes still draws a smile to his face.

“Teqqc,” Uxxok says, “if you are to accompany me to the underground any more, you must do something about your choice of clothing.”

Teqqc stops halfway through Qino’s market square. “Pardon me? It sounds as if you do not like my clothes,” she says with anger gripping her tone.

Uxxok shakes his head, “No, it is not that.”

“Well then, what is it then?” Teqqc says, her voice dripping with a biting tone.

Uxxok smiles, “Your clothing is much too bright and distinctive. Everyone knows you are the Oqoponh just by your dress. It is far too distinguishable. You must buy darker clothes.”

Teqqc scoffs, “I feel my Oqoponh status should be noticed wherever I may roam.”

“And that is exactly what will get you killed in the underground.”

“What?!” Teqqc exclaims with a quiver of her lip.

“The underground is governed by a much different set of rules than what you are accustomed; the Oqoponh and her power mean little to them. The underground reacts to acts of violence, not acts of kindness.”

“Well, maybe if I show the underground how magnificent kindness is, then-”

“No. The underground was built by darkness, for darkness. Why do you think I showcased an aura so dark when we visited Coas’ underground?”

“I was actually going to ask you about that.”

Uxxok smirks, “You sound afraid.”

Teqqc makes eye contact with Uxxok. She stares deep into his eyes. Vendors call out to those passing by their stalls. People flood the market square, weaving around the stalls, splitting as a river meeting a rock as they encounter Uxxok and Teqqc.

Teqqc conveys her ferocity as she stares without blinking at Uxxok. Uxxok feels Teqqc’s aura barricading itself. Uxxok smiles.

“I suppose you are not, but you are hiding it well.”

Teqqc rolls her eyes, scoffing at Uxxok’s claim. “If I were afraid of you, Uxxok, I would have destroyed you long ago.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Only if you want it to be.”

“Very well. I accept, but then I challenge you to obtain darker clothes.”

Teqqc throws her hands in the air, an air of exasperation in her sighing. “Fine!”

Teqqc marches to the nearest clothing vendor. She examines the various tunics, pants, robes, capes, hats, boots, sandals, and even dark jewelry the vendor has for sale. She picks up a dark gray tunic, dark gray pants, and black boots. She places the articles of clothing before the vendor as she pulls out individual coins of heavy penoc. The vendor licks his lips at the sight of the currency.

Teqqc smiles at the vendor, turns on her heels and vanishes on the spot. Uxxok shakes his head. He walks only a few yards when Teqqc suddenly reappears wearing her recently obtained clothes.

Uxxok nods his approval as he looks at her again now, walking through the dim tunnel, following a herd of people talking lively of a circus. The dim tunnel is only a few yards long before they exit and find a giant tent ready for them to enter.

Uxxok and Teqqc follow the group of people inside. They see there are no benches or chairs to sit, they are forced to stand. The circus showcases the usual entertainments of giant, exotic creatures, incredible human feats, and even a magician.

The magician calls for three volunteers from the audience. Many hands shoot into the air including Uxxok’s and Teqqc’s. The magician chooses a middle-aged man, a young adult male, and Uxxok.

The two volunteers and Uxxok weed their way through the crowd to make their way to the center of the tent. The magician motions for them to stand inside of a circle. The volunteers and Uxxok find themselves nearly touching each other.

The magician then positions Uxxok with his back to the two other volunteers. The magician does the same with the two other volunteers, having them look out at the crowd. The crowd watches with eager eyes, wonder fixed on the magician’s every movement.

Suddenly, the magician pulls a giant blanket from thin air and drapes it over Uxxok and the two other volunteers.

“Now!” the magician exclaims. “For my final trick, I will make these men vanish before your very eyes!”

The crowd gasps their pleasure. The magician smiles widely. He waves his hands around the draped volunteers. He grabs the dark blanket and pulls hard, revealing nothing but air to the crowd.

The crowd claps excitedly, the magician bows again and again. Teqqc observes the ring Uxxok and the two other men were standing in only moments ago. She sees a slight discoloration of the ring from the ground around it. She realizes it is a stage built high. She wonders where the trapdoor leads.

The magician walks away after another bout of bowing to the crowd, receiving praises, flowers, jewelry, and penoc. The magician walks through a gaping curtain of orange fire. Teqqc watches the magician’s every move.

Teqqc feels a presence attempting to connect with her aura. She feels Uxxok’s aura at the other end of the connection and allows Uxxok to speak to her.

‘Do not be alarmed, Teqqc. I am sure you observed the trapdoor. We were dropped into a wagon that immediately began moving as soon as we dropped into it. We will be lead directly to the slave leaders I am sure,’ Uxxok says.

Teqqc smiles to herself, ‘Shall I prepare our weapons for a moment’s notice?’

Uxxok sends gratitude through the connection before severing contact with her.

Teqqc looks at the orange curtain and walks to it. She notices she is not alone as she sees two women approaching the curtain as well. She pauses to observe the two women.

Teqqc sees expressions of anger and confusion on the women’s faces. She realizes these women must be the wives of the other two volunteers that disappeared along with Uxxok.

The two women do not hesitate as they throw the curtain around them and disappear behind the orange fabric. Teqqc hesitates. Just as she is about to move the curtain away, she hears yelling. The two women’s voices and the magician’s voice.

“You bring me back my husband now!” one of the women says violently.

“I am afraid he is lost in the mirror world,” the magician lies

“The mirror world? What a load!” the other woman speaks.

“Oh, no, I am afraid the mirror world is very real? Would you like to witness it yourselves?” the magician asks.

Teqqc peaks through the orange curtain just in time to see the magician retreats a few feet, turns, claps, and then faces the women again. The two women glance at one another with a nod and then charge at the magician.

Teqqc nearly yells at them before blood spurts from the back of both women simultaneously. Teqqc gasps, observing a cloaked figure with two blades protruding from its hands into the now dead women.

The figure retracts its blades and faces the magician, “Get rid of these two,” the figure says with a melodic but stern voice. Teqqc vanishes on the spot to the apartment she and Uxxok have been staying.

She connects to Uxxok’s aura and relates what she just witnessed. Uxxok’s aura constricts in anger for a moment.

‘That dark cloaked person was the same that attacked me. This is not coincidence. That figure must be a leader of the slave trade. We have to capture that person.’

Teqqc nods though Uxxok cannot see her. ‘Be careful, Uxxok,’ she says to him.

‘And you as well, Teqqc,’ Uxxok responds. ‘And, do not forget what I showed you.’

Teqqc smiles to herself as Uxxok severs the connection between their two auras. Teqqc brings about the memory of Uxxok showing her the dark room he was remembering through meditation, the dark room where that same dark cloaked figure attacked him.

She works through her memory slowly, examining every detail, Uxxok’s voice in the back of her mind, ‘This room must have some importance. Possibly even a connection to the one that attacked me.’

She clears her mind after examining the memory thoroughly discovering something Uxxok had yet to stumble upon. The nightstand beside a barren bed held a key, an ornate key with golden inlays. She smiles, ‘That key must be important. But what does it lead to?’ she asks herself before flashing away.

She appears in the dark room. She looks to the nightstand next to the barren bed but cannot see anything. She conjures an ember in her hand that illuminates the dark room. She walks closer to the nightstand and finds nothing resting atop the piece of furniture.

She turns to her right to discover boards parallel to one another nailed into place. She notices the flat head of the nail greeting her. ‘Someone boarded this room from within, I wonder...’ she thinks to herself.

She pulls out every drawer of the nightstand, finding nothing but dust. She looks to the empty bookcase, seeing nothing but empty space. She turns around the room to face a blank wall.

She frowns. She kicks the table in front of her. The table collapses at her kick. She winces at the noise, hoping no one is around to hear the rumble. After the table’s vibrations cease, Teqqc waits just a bit longer, listening for anyone running up the stairs.

When she is confident no one heard the noise, she rummages through the splinters of the wooden table. She sees a sharp glint in her right peripheral. She shines the ember in that direction and sees a shining golden circle smiling at her.

She smiles. Just as she grasps the key, the boards explode with fury. Teqqc is knocked unbalanced. She stumbles into the wall where she looks at the gaping hole filling with light.

Smoke, dust, and debris settle and Teqqc sees a dark cloaked figure glaring at her with two swords ready to strike. Teqqc extinguishes her flame, but not before the figure notices where Teqqc is inside the room.

The figure then ignites flames on the swords and sets fire to the room. The flames go out from he blades to all the walls, trapping Teqqc inside. Teqqc blows a powerful fire ball at the figure who blocks it with apparent ease.

Teqqc blinks. She tries to flash away, but the figure attacks with a scorching fast fireball. Teqqc dodges but is struck on her left shoulder, burning through her clothes to her skin instantly.

Teqqc winces at the pain, blows a fire stream at the figure and flashes away. Teqqc stumbles in the apartment she left only a few minutes ago. She summons water out of a nearby bucket and floods her burning shoulder.

She slowly heats the water to match her burning, and then slowly freezes the water to ice, numbing her shoulder. She tears the ice away and quickly bandages her shoulder. She swears to herself.

She looks around the apartment and sees Uxxok’s sword resting on a chair. She grabs it and connects with Uxxok’s aura.

‘I was just attacked by that same figure,’ Teqqc says as soon as Uxxok permits Teqqc’s request.

‘What?! How?’ Uxxok asks concerned.

‘I went to that room where you were attacked by that figure as well. You were right, it was vital to our mission. I found something that could be vital.’

Teqqc sends a mental image of the glistening key to Uxxok through the connection.

‘Do you have any idea what it is for?’ Uxxok asks.

‘No, I was hoping you would have an idea,’ Teqqc responds.

‘Well, I have never seen or heard of a key such as that,’ Uxxok states. ‘But, the wagon is slowing, we have arrived wherever we are. Be ready for my signal.’

Uxxok severs the connection with Teqqc as he looks at the two men across from him. Neither of them have talked to one another, and Uxxok does not make a point to now.

Uxxok stares at each man. He glances between each one, trying to decipher what it is the slavers are looking for in their potential product. He sees the younger man is fair skinned with red hair and a slight build. He sees the older man is dark skinned with balding hair but no build to his frame.

Uxxok knows he is the oldest among the three but has the strongest build of them all. Uxxok scratches his head, his mind baffled by opponents he has yet to meet.

The wagon stops. The tarp to Uxxok’s left suddenly thrown open. Light filters in to the caravan. Whips crack before Uxxok and the two men. Yelling in the underground language rings out.

Uxxok smiles, ‘This will be easier than I thought,’ the thinks to himself.

A rough voice sounds out, “Get out! All o’ ya eh!”

The two men across from Uxxok do not move, but Uxxok rises slowly. He hunches as he walks to the light to his right. Before he can take in any of his surroundings, he his blinded as a bag covers his head. He does not resist.

Uxxok is then half-dragged. His feet begin to step on stone rather than crunch on grass and dirt and realizes he has entered a building. He listens to the guttural language of the underground being shouted every where.

He smiles to himself. He now knows exactly where the leader of Qino’s slave trade resides. He quickly connects to Teqqc’s aura. The bag is pulled from his head. Spit covers his eyes almost immediately. He is forced into a chair. He wipes at his eyes with his tunic.

He eyes a giant man with a massive sword strapped to his back before him. Uxxok smiles at the man. Uxxok speaks in the underground language, baffling the giant man. Uxxok smirks, warning the giant man to leave.

The giant man balks, laughs, and draws his mighty sword. “I ain’t gonna listen to a word you say. Even if its in the olders language.”

“It is the Elders’ language, and I am afraid I did warn you,” Uxxok says before exclaiming, ‘Now!’ to Teqqc through their connected auras.

Teqqc appears behind the giant man and throws a powerful air current into the giant man’s temple, knocking the giant unconscious. Uxxok nods to Teqqc with approval. Teqqc smiles at Uxxok.

Uxxok rises from the chair. He straps on his sword Teqqc hands to him. He motions for her to follow him. They exit the room to find themselves at the end of a long hallway.

Uxxok walks confidently down the hallway. They come to the other end of the hallway to see three stories of other hallways extending from the center as spokes on a wheel.

Uxxok walks to the right and enters another hallway with no doors whatsoever. They rush quickly but quietly down the hallway and find a solid iron door smiling at them. Uxxok puts his ear to the door and listens carefully inside.

He hears nothing for a moment but then footsteps echo into his ear. He quickly backs away to the wall, putting his arm around Teqqc and forcing her next to him on his left.

The iron door opens to their right and a figure quickly stalks out without a glance at either of them. Uxxok quickly moves to block the door from closing and gestures to Teqqc to enter with him.

Uxxok and Teqqc walk casually inside the modest sized room. A desk in the center with a chair’s back facing them greets them. Two chairs opposite the desk offer the only other seating in the room.

The walls are lined with shelves and crammed with various papers, books, and maps. Behind the desk is a raging fire inside a fire place. The orange flames dancing upwards.

Suddenly, the chair moves. A figure is revealed to them as it turns the chair around. A man sits before Uxxok and Teqqc with a balding head and deep wrinkles in his forehead and cheeks.

“You two are not whom I was expecting,” the man says, startled. “Who are you?” he demands.

“I believe we will be asking all the questions tonight, Horis,” Uxxok grunts.

The man freezes in his chair. He glares at Uxxok, “How do you know my name?”

“There is much we know about you, Horis,” Uxxok begins. “A messenger bird of yours was captured and exposed all of your evil doings.”

Horis relaxes, baffling Teqqc, “Oh? You caught a messenger bird have you? Tell me, what color was it?”

Uxxok hesitates for a moment. He breaks into Horis’ aura before the man blinks.

Uxxok retreats to his own aura before saying, “Ah, I see. You do not even use messenger birds.”

Horis nods, “Exactly,” he says before drawing his weapon and igniting a fire stream at Uxxok’s head. Teqqc reaches out to redirect the fire and sends it crashing into the iron door.

Uxxok dives to the floor to his right, rises to his feet, draws his blade and charges at Horis. Horis blocks Uxxok’s strike with his blade and holds Uxxok, preventing Uxxok from breaking away.

Uxxok smirks all the while he and Horis deadlock with one another. Teqqc maneuvers herself behind Horis. Uxxok ceases his forward momentum against Horis and spins away, forcing Horis to stumble forward. Teqqc then shoots two powerful wind currents at Horis.

Teqqc grabs Horis’ blade and throws it away, while pushing Horis against the wall, holding him tightly with wind. Horis wrenches hard against the wind current, but finds himself stuck fast. He curses to himself.

“Who are you?” Horis yells through gritted teeth.

“Flip him around, Teqqc,” Uxxok says.

Teqqc obliges, forcing Horis to face them.

“The Oqoponh huh? So, you must be Rniti,” Horis says. “Well, I will have you know that you do not have long before my guards storm this room.”

Uxxok smiles, “I do not believe that will be a problem. That fire stream of yours has melted the metal, sealing the door shut.”

Horis’ eyes glance towards the door to see droopy iron almost fused with the stone bricks. He curses to himself again. “Very well,” he says defeated, “what do you know about me?”

“We were told you can give us information, if you cooperate, we might spare your life,” Uxxok threatens.

Horis laughs, “Is that so? With the Oqoponh to witness it all? I think not.”

Teqqc smiles devilishly. She throws sigo into the wind currents, heating the air pushing on Horis to a dangerous degree. Horis panics.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Horis yells. “It burns! Stop! Please!”

Teqqc relinquishes her sigo and slowly the temperature of her air currents return to the temperature of the room. Horis glares at Teqqc darkly. He glares at Uxxok darkly.

“What information do you want,” Horis says while lowering his eyes.

Uxxok smiles, “Release him, Teqqc.”

Teqqc glances at Uxxok with confusion on her face. Uxxok merely nods. Teqqc puts her hand at her side, the wind current dissipating quickly. Horis stares at Uxxok with confusion on his face as well.

“You released me? Before I gave you information?” Horis asks, baffled.

Uxxok smiles, “Yes. For personal reasons and because I feel you are sharp enough to realize when you cannot win, especially against two highly-trained Rniti.”

Horis stares at Uxxok suspiciously. “Very well, what is it you would like to know?”

Uxxok smiles. He observes Horis relax against he wall. Horis crosses his arms and looks away from Uxxok and Teqqc to glance at the wall to his right. Uxxok breaks into Horis’ aura.

“Where do you take the men the magician makes disappear?” Uxxok asks.

Horis glances at Uxxok and then back at the wall. “We keep them here.”

“For how long?”

“Not much longer than a week.”

“Where do you send them after that?”

“Back east.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

Uxxok spits “You are lying.”

Horis glances at Uxxok with fear in his eyes. Uxxok nods to Teqqc. Teqqc immediately throws another wind current at Horis, stronger than the first, pushing him against the wall very tightly. Horis coughs on each breath.

Uxxok nods again to Teqqc. Teqqc releases her grip on the wind current, freeing Horis yet again. Horis falls to his knees, coughing heavily, sucking in air as if he had not breathed in years.

“Now, I will ask you again. Where do you send them after here?” Uxxok asks not unkindly.

Horis coughs one last time, “We send them to a sorting station.”

“Which is?”

“Where we sort those with strength from those that do not.”

“And where is this sorting station?”

“I don’t know.”

Uxxok groans. He grabs Horis by the throat and lifts the man up, forcing Horis to his feet. Uxxok nods to Teqqc and as soon as Uxxok pulls his hand away from Horis’ throat, Teqqc slams Horis with a wind current with the strength of double that of the first two wind currents combined.

Horis feels his breath knocked out of him forcefully. He gasps, trying to breathe. The wind current forces him into a near complete paralytic state. His eyes plead to Uxxok and Teqqc, begging for release.

Uxxok turns away from Horis, sheathing his blade. He walks to the Horis’s chair and sits. Uxxok relaxes into the chair. He stares at Horis, watching as the effects of suffocation take their toll on Horis’ body and mind.

Horis begins to see black around the edge of his vision. Spots flash at him in quick succession. He glances around quickly, desperately looking for a way to break from his nearly invisible prison.

After a few more moments, “Release him, Teqqc,” Uxxok finally says.

Horis collapses to the floor, gasping for breath, wheezing on each inhale, raggedly exhaling. He finds enough strength to sit against the wall, wheezing slightly less. Uxxok observes this, waiting for Horis to regain enough strength to continue his questioning.

Uxxok walks to Horis and squats in front of him. Uxxok breaks into Horis’ aura without much difficulty at all.

“Now, where is this sorting station?” Uxxok breathes through clenched teeth.

Horis looks at Uxxok as a reprimanded child looks at his parent. “Oxvo.”

Uxxok smiles, “Thank you for your cooperation, Horis. Now, sleep.”

Uxxok strikes with a fist to Horis’ temple, knocking out the man. “Come, Teqqc, we have a new city to investigate.”

Teqqc stands firm, “We are not going to help those that are already caught? What of those two wives that were slain?”

“Though that was tragic, imagine all the other murders that have been committed by similar means. We can only help those by finding the source of this slave trade and executing the head of the snake.”

Teqqc looks down, afraid.

Uxxok walks to Teqqc. He places a hand under her chin. He raises her head up. He looks her in the eyes. “Our strength will defeat this cruel trade.”

Teqqc smiles. Uxxok smiles back. They flash on the spot and appear in a dim room. Uxxok quickly works to light candles. Just as in Qino, an apartment takes shape before Teqqc.

“You have hidden bases in every city?”

“No. Just the cities with the most dangerous or most important undergrounds.”

“Your knowledge of the underground is sometimes frightening, Uxxok. How you knew that circus would lead us straight to the slavers is baffling.”

“Well, when I overheard the vendor that sold you those dark clothes speaking in hushed tones with another vendor after we left, I knew the circus was worth investigating. A circus is normally spoken about with vigor and excitement, not hushed and rushed tones.”

Teqqc smiles. She sits on the bed and lays down on her side. “I would have never noticed.”

“That is why I am here.”

Uxxok says as he lays down next to her on his right side, facing away from Teqqc. “You also discovered the circus rather quickly.”

“Yes, it was ingenious of me to follow a herd of people from a tavern.”

Teqqc laughs. Uxxok smiles. They close their eyes and find sleep overtakes them quickly. Uxxok dreams of a fire surrounding him. A blade flashing through his stomach. His legs weakening. His eyes closing forever. Teqqc dreams of a fire surrounding a figure. She watches the figure be impaled by a wicked sword. She pounces on the figure. She drives her own staff into the faceless figure’s head again and again and again.