GABRIEL (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 4) (38 page)

"Up," Jarad commanded and Elo raised his trunk high in the air, tipping back his head at the same time. Jarad stood up on the forehead, walked to the hindquarters and straddled the hump with his knees bent.

Gabriel went next and looked just as relaxed about the matter as Jarad had.

"Go on, Shara. I should sit in front," Ester said.

Shara thought the animal seemed friendly enough but it was
so
big. "We really shouldn't put Elo out like this. I can walk."

Don't be a coward.

I am not a coward! I'm cautious.

Then get your cautious behind up here.

"Elo does not mind and it is much too far to walk," Ester told her.

Shara stroked Elo's trunk and murmured, "I've never been very good at physical things, so don't be insulted if I fall off." Elo's big eye blinked at her as if he understood and Shara sat down as the men had. Seconds later she was wondering why she was so worried about something that was such fun.

As the elephant lumbered its way north along the coast at a faster pace than one would expect from such a huge creature, Gabriel recorded the beauty of the land. There were steep mountains not far away that were partially covered with deep green forests. The barren peaks had a lavender cast in the twilight. Throughout a good deal of the trip, they were in a meadow with thick grass where herds of animals grazed, unconcerned by the humans passing by.

He was able to identify many of the species that had been in Zeus's commune on Norona, so he assumed a number of the animals must have survived the arduous trip. But he also saw zebras and unicorns and a few others he didn't recognize.

Shara spotted the royal city a kilometer away because of the golden glow and the closer they got, the brighter it shone. The entire city was enclosed by a high wall covered with what appeared to be polished brass. The entrance to the city was through a gate of golden bars that was wide enough for a herd of elephants to march through at once. On each side of the gate was a guard tower carved from red-veined black marble.

Ester waved at a guard and the gates were quickly opened for them. Elo carried them onto a bridge as wide as the gateway and paved in the same black stone. As they crossed over a vast waterway, a sailboat passed beneath them.

"When we were children," Ester said, "this harbor was filled with vessels of all sizes. We used to sit on the outer wall and watch them coming and going and pretend that we were directing them."

On the opposite side of the harbor was another wall like the first except that its gate was narrower in size. Again the guard in the tower immediately granted them entrance upon seeing Ester. A paved road led them through a beautifully manicured garden that gradually inclined until they reached another wall and gate. These were coated in a silvery metal and were somewhat less imposing in grandeur and size.

As they proceeded onto another bridge that took them over a waterway half the width of the first, Shara asked Ester, "Can you go to other parts of Atlantis by way of these waters?"

"No, only out to the great sea. There are three canals that surround the citadel mound, each a little higher than the one before. When we reach the temple, you will be able to look down and see the five-tiered circles of land and water."

They crossed another stretch of upward-sloping land and another bridge before they reached the gate to the citadel. This wall had a different glow than the others—golden, but darker, with the reflective quality of polished copper.

That must he orichalcum,
Gabriel told her.
It's referred to in the history texts, but nothing matching its description was ever found elsewhere on this planet or any other, so no one could be certain of the existence of such a metal.

It's beautiful. This whole place is absolutely breathtaking. I can't wait to see the temple itself.
She felt Gabriel's anticipation stirring her own and truly understood how he could get so enthralled by history.

As soon as they were through the last gate, Shara got her first glimpse of the entire temple, since it sat atop a high mound. Around it was a city of glittering buildings, mansions made of a variety of shades of marble, gardens, elaborate fountains and statues.

But nothing was as awesome as the temple of Poseidon. A copper-plated archway three times Elo's height preceded a spacious courtyard. That open area was surrounded by a gleaming golden wall, atop which was a row of golden statues of men and women dressed in the style of the Noronian Friends. In the center of the wall were double doors, also coated in gold, and a much larger golden figure of a man stood above those.

Beyond the wall were hundreds of white marble steps leading up to the temple itself. Shara guessed the building covered an area of at least two hectares and the smaller second story brought the buildings overall height to over two hundred meters. The structure and its multitude of columns were entirely coated in shining silver except for the pinnacles and trim, which were gold. It was garish beyond belief and yet the sheer splendor had to be appreciated for the incredible workmanship that must have gone into an endeavor of such magnitude.

Elo stopped in front of the double doors and knelt down for his riders to dismount.

"Wait, Elo," Ester told the elephant. "We will return very soon."

Gabriel and Shara both had to fight the urge to race up the long flight of steps to see the interior but as it turned out, they didn't go up at all. Ester led them around the side to a doorway at ground level.

A stocky man stood guard in front of the door, holding a spear taller than himself. He was cleanshaven and his brown hair was cut bluntly above his ears. The only clothing he wore was a white girdle and sandals. As Ester and Jarad approached, he acknowledged them with a nod but tilted his spear forward to stop them from proceeding.

"Do you bring the potion?"

Ester removed the lid from the crock she was hugging close to her body and let the guard look inside. He licked his thin lips in anticipation of a taste.

"You were almost late. I was going to have to report you soon."

Jarad kept his head bowed as he replied in an apologetic tone, "We have been ordered to bring more each day. It takes time to prepare so much."

The guard's attention turned to the two servants standing behind Ester and Jarad. "Why are they with you?"

Keep your head down,
Gabriel warned Shara.

"They were loaned to us to work in the field today so that we could supply the princes more adequately," Jarad answered.

"Oh?"

The guard studied each of them as if he knew Jarad had lied, but Shara felt no mental probe.

"How is it that slaves were permitted to observe your work? Are they scheduled for execution this eve so that the secret will die with them?"

Gabriel gave Jarad and Ester a second to give an acceptable explanation. When it was obvious that lying didn't come quickly to them, and with the possibility of a swift execution at hand, he gave the only excuse that came to mind. "Because we know the magic from our homeland."

"Step forward, both of you," the guard ordered and Jarad and Ester moved aside. The man pushed back Shara's hood. "You are a woman," he said with surprise. "Raise your eyes."

Change your eye color for him,
Gabriel suggested.

Shara met the guard's gaze and thought of how he and his people would sentence young Rebekah to a brutal death without hesitation. She felt the anger build and knew it would be obvious in her eyes.

The guard saw the yellow sparks appear in her pupils and jerked back from her. "You are a witch!" He used the tip of his spear to push Gabriel's hood off. "Look at me." Gabriel complied and the guard stared into his eyes. Unable to perform any magic, Gabriel said, "Her power is much stronger than mine."

"I see." Relaxing a bit, the guard reached up and combed his fingers through Gabriel's blond curls. "You have very pretty hair for one smiled upon by the dark side." His hand skimmed down Gabriel's neck and measured the size of his shoulder and upper arm with a gentle kneading motion.

Shara felt Gabriel's revulsion at the man's touch and realized the guard was stroking him rather than testing his strength. Gabriel stood immobile as the guard's palm scraped over his chest and began an exploratory path downward.

"Why don't you go on, Jarad," the guard said in a softened voice. "I wish to question this slave further."

Ester held out the crock. "Wouldn't you like to sample the potion?"

The guard took his hand and his gaze off Gabriel long enough to wet the tip of his index finger and dip it into the powder. He brought a few grains up and placed them under his tongue, then waved Ester away. "Hurry on, now, before they miss you inside." Gabriel started to leave as well but the guard's meaty fingers closed over his arm. "Not you."

Shara turned back and hurled a suggestion at him.
The slave is diseased. Touching him is disgusting to you.

The guard immediately withdrew his hand with an expression of horror. "Be off! All of you."

The moment the door opened, Shara's ears were assaulted by earsplitting clanging and a wave of heat hit her face. One glance around the cavernous room lit only by firelight told her this was where all the splendorous metalwork was done. Working over fires and pounding on anvils were a great number of naked, sweating men, whose expressions revealed the hopelessness of their situation. Not one of them looked up as Shara passed.

As Ester guided her small party out of that room and down a corridor, she reminded Gabriel and Shara to cover their heads again and hunch down.

"Why are those men working under such terrible conditions instead of outside or at least in an open shelter?" Shara asked.

"The nobility prefers not to mar the beauty of the city with the sight or noise of labor. In the cooler months, the heat from all the fires on this level is directed into the chambers above but at this time, the vents are closed off."

They passed another large area where women were weaving and stitching copper-colored serving robes and lush garments in a rainbow of bold colors and farther along pottery was being made. Finally they arrived at the cookery and Shara's first thought was that there were more workers here preparing food than she had seen in all the other areas combined. Surely she and Gabriel could blend in without notice. Now, if only they could get to the nobles themselves.

The heat from the cookfires was a little less sweltering than the first area they had entered but wearing the robes made up the difference.

Ester took Shara and Gabriel to the overseer. With a friendly smile, she greeted a woman with darker skin than her own. "Good eve, Leah. We were detained by the soldier at the door again. I hope we are not too late."

"They have not sounded the flute yet. The fruit cider has been heated and is ready for you to complete its preparation."

"Good. That soldier asked us to bring these two slaves here to work for you. They are very strong and are to be assigned to service in the chambers above."

"Of course," Leah said with a knowing smirk. "That man will do anything to avoid the heat inside, including sending others to do his errands. Fine. You go about your preparations and I'll show them their duties." With a wave at Shara and Gabriel, Leah said, "Follow me," and led them through the maze of workers and tables to a stone staircase.

"The first service will be the cider. You will carry the tureens up these stairs. Be careful not to trip on the hem of your robe. The punishment for a broken serving piece is a broken bone of comparable size. You spill the cider, your blood will be spilled in an equal amount. It is that simple. You do not speak or look into the eyes of the nobility, regardless of their rank, nor do you touch any part of their bodies or garments. Other cookery slaves will do the serving at this meal. Observe their actions and the signals of the nobles so that you can serve at the next. After the first portion of cider has been served, you will bring any empty tureens back down and carry up the next course."

Nice job you landed for us,
Gabriel thought to Shara when they were left alone to stand in readiness at the foot of the stairs.

Would you rather go back to the poppy field?

I'd rather get a quick look at the inside of the temple and head home.

Don't pout. It ruins the effect of your pretty hair.

He made a face at her for reminding him of what he'd almost been subjected to.
I suppose I have to thank you for rescuing me.

Why didn't you try sending a suggestion yourself?

Quite honestly, it never occurred to me. I'm not sure I've mastered it anyway.

Try one now. Something innocuous.

He stared at Leah and suggested that her nose itched. When Leah failed to react, Shara sent the same thought and the overseer promptly rubbed the tip of her nose.

Gabriel frowned.
I don't know what I did wrong.

Neither do I. Maybe it takes more practice.

Before he had a chance to make another attempt, the trill of a flute drifted down the winding staircase.

Leah instructed them to each take a side handle on the first tureen. As soon as they lifted the heavy container full of sloshing hot cider a centimeter off the table, they switched to their combined levitation power. The fact that their robes had been too short to begin with was now a blessing as they navigated the endless flight of steep stairs.