Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero (35 page)

“But that’s against the will of the goddess,” Maya
Obril said. “To go against the laws of Kali is blasphemy.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Your laws can only
shield you so long.”

Standing outside the hall where Brian was meeting with
the nobility, Jabril stood quietly and listened. Her second, a lieutenant
commander with short green hair stood next her.

“Everything’s ready commander,” she reported.

Jabril smiled. “It’s sooner than we anticipated, but
the day’s finally come.”

“What if the nobles don’t accept his demands?” asked
one of her subordinates.

Jabril pointed to Brian. “There stands the Herald sent
to us by the Teacher. If we’re to ever take back Kalaidia, today’s the day it’s
going to happen.”

The royal guards massed together and rallied behind
their leader.

* * *

“How far has the threat of revolution spread?” Maya
Obril asked.

Brian calmly looked at all of the nobles. “The
revolutionaries have infiltrated every part of your government and military,
including the royal guard.”

The nobles were beside themselves and whispered
fervently about what to do.

He paced the perimeter of the hall. “You feel time
isn’t on your side. All I ask is that you end the age of tyranny and free the
people of your world.”

“That’s an easy thing to say, but not to implement,”
Maya Obril said. “If we free them, how are they to live? Are we required to
compensate them, what about their homes?”

“That’s true!” Ryn Milriel shouted. “The chaos of
freeing so many might destroy us faster than the revolution you’re speaking
of!”

“What gives you the right to judge us?!” Daes Rilmai
asked.

More nobles shouted at him, making similar remarks. Brian
turned to the doors leading out. “I believe that’s your queue Commander
Jabril.”

A moment later, Jabril and the royal guards stormed in
brandishing their
rakna
lances and pulse rifles.

Jabril went to him. “You could tell just by looking at
me I was the leader?”

He shrugged. “It was a guess actually, but I figured
you knew something about it.”

Celestia stood up, shocked to see her trusted guards
point weapons at the nobles. She glared at Jabril as she stood next to Brian.

“Jabril?” she asked.

“I’m sorry my Queen, but this was inevitable. Kalaidia
has stagnated for over a hundred years and the time for change is now! What
Brian speaks of is the path we must take. None of us wants to revolt. Neither
do we wish to kill anyone. We just want the nobles to wake up from their
slumber and see the horror that is our world.”

* * *

Seles flew the Mjolnir to Vaelis. As she flew over the
city, she saw the streets filled with people watching massive screens at
various hubs across the capital. They watched as Brian and the royal guards
took control of the High Court. She landed the Mjolnir outside the High Court
and opened the front hatch.

“It looks like another mess out there,” Mira said as
Seles went outside.

“Yeah,” she said. She stared at the crowd and seeing
their expression of uncertain hope. “Take care of everything until we get
back.”

Mira nodded. As Seles lowered herself to the ground,
she was beset by a horde of confused soldiers and commoners. Each asked the
princess what was going on and who to listen to. Seles waved her hands to quiet
the crowd.

“I know you’re afraid!” she said. “My fellow
Kalaidians, he speaks the truth! Once you’ve tasted freedom, you’ll never give
it back! Now let me through so I can set things right!”

The crowd split to allow her through.

* * *

Celestia was defeated. “I‘ll hear the grievances given
by Brian for the commoners. In addition, we’ll set the commoners to their own
design. Please Brian; end this before it turns violent.”

Brian turned to Jabril. “Take the guards outside for
now. I don’t think they like having weapons at their throats while they make
major decisions.”

Jabril raised her hand and the guards began filing out
of the chamber. She turned back to him. “If we’re needed, just ask.” She
saluted. “You’re the Herald the Teacher said would come. Please guide us back
onto the right path.”

* * *

Seles was nearing the main chamber when she ran into a
number of royal guards. She noticed they weren’t wearing the royal crest on
their uniforms. When she came to the main doors she ran into Jabril.

“What are you going to do Lady Seles?” Jabril asked.

Seles smiled. “Please don’t call me that Jabril. As
for what I’m going to do, I’m not sure. I’ll do as I must and nothing less.”

“Good luck Seles,” Jabril said as she left.

Seles went inside and saw Brian taking a verbal
beating from the nobles. He turned and stared. The nobles went silent as she
joined Brian. Celestia looked down at her daughter.

“I’ll consider concessions only if you return Seles to
my custody,” Celestia said.

“Brian,” Seles said he turned and smiled at her.

“Don’t worry,” he said before turning back to
Celestia. “As I said before, Seles is not for me to give. You say that
concessions will be given, so give one now Queen of Kalaidia. Words are hollow;
give your people an action that speaks the truth! Set your daughter free!”

The nobles remained silent while Celestia stared at
the pair. “No. Seles is vital to our government. I can’t allow her to run
free.”

He could tell Celestia was speaking for the nobility
and not herself.
She’s bound by the nobles around her.
He looked at the
crowd and then to Seles.
It’s time I use their special law.
He kissed
Seles passionately, catching her and the nobles off guard. After a moment of
silence he pulled away.

“I love you,” he said. “Since the first time we met,
you’ve always been there giving me hope. My life would have no meaning if I
never met you Seles. I give my life to you. I’d suffer any hardship, be it the
Kai
,
or death itself.”

The nobles stood with their mouths agape. Seles smiled
playfully and slapped him lightly on the cheek. “You’re such a big fool. Don’t
forget I feel the same as you.” She pulled him down to her level again and
kissed him again. She pulled back, blushing. “What’s the plan?”

“Something that hasn’t been done in many years Seles,”
he answered.

He drew his
rakna
blade and walked to the
center of the floor before driving the blade into the ground. Looking up, he
knew the older nobles recognized this ritual. He looked directly at Celestia.
“As you’ve said yourself Celestia, I’m a citizen of this world now. As such I’m
subject to its laws and rights.”

“What are you doing?” Celestia asked.

“
Zin du monda lan manu e Kali, ju Brian Peterson,
hondi mon san do e Callun Kamiya ave Seles Daevon.
No one in the lands of
Kali may dispute this right, save for the Kali, her direct representative, or
that representative’s proxy. If this right is disputed, please step forward
now.”

“But you aren’t Kalaidian,” Maya Obril said. Many of
the other nobles repeated the sentiment.

He smiled. “I‘ve read your laws extensively and found
that nowhere in the right of
Callun Kamiya
does it state I must be of
the same species. It simply states that I must be a male of the age of
majority. I’m male and twenty two years old.”

The nobles called up the law on their computers and
found it in the very unused section of the legal system. Celestia drew her
rakna
blade and walked down the stairs to him. The other nobles tried to stop her,
but she walked through them while brushing them aside. Brian stood next to his
sword waiting for her to act. She stopped in front of him.

“You’re well versed in our laws. As I have no
Rakna
Maigarda
, only I or the goddess may dispute this union. Does Seles mean
that much to you?” she asked, looking to her daughter.

“Yes,” he answered.

“You could simply steal her away, so why go through
all this?” Celestia asked.

“One act of liberty can begin washing away the pain of
tyranny,” he reached out with his hand, “Let us begin anew Celestia. It’s time
to set them her free, once and for all.”

Celestia stood for a moment, pointing her
rakna
at him. Sighing, she lowered her blade and set it on the ground in front of
him. “Even if I wished to, there’s no way I’d be able to defeat you in single
combat.” She turned to the other nobles. “Brian may be Terran. He may have
round ears. His eyes and hair are colors we’re not used to. Even his beliefs
are foreign. His size is larger than we’re accustomed to. But if he and Seles
are to be as one, I cannot dispute it.” She turned to Brian and took his hand.
“Let us hope this union bridges a lasting alliance between Kalaidia and Terra
Prime.”

“Thank you mother,” Seles said as she hugged Celestia.

Celestia whispered into Seles’s ear, “For a long time
I’ve wanted to do this, but I didn‘t have the strength to let you go. I’m sorry
I wasn’t the mother you needed all these years.”

The nobles began grumbling again. Celestia waved them
off. “I recognized Brian Peterson as the Herald spoke of by the Teacher. Let
his words be heard and let us know their worth. As Queen of Kalaidia, I declare
the commoners be free!”

Across the worlds of Kali the crowds cheered in
celebration. The nobles stood stunned and eyed their queen like she’d gone mad.
Brian stepped forward.

“Nobles and commoners of Kalaidia, I propose a transitional
period of ten years. The nobles will continue meeting and the queen will still
have power. I suggest to the commoners and revolutionaries you set up a body
similar to the nobles, a House of Commons so to speak. To ensure the transition
occurs, the House of Commons will have equal power to the nobles and the queen.
I’ll forward plans for such a governing body to your leaders shortly, as well
as to the queen and nobility. Should ten years pass and my words not are made
real, I will return to ensure that you, the people of Kali, are free at last.”

* * *

Jita stood in the hall and watched the scene inside
the High Court. Myden appeared from the shadows and stood beside him.

“He’s set into motion something that can’t be stopped
my friend,”
Myden said telepathically
to the Mylor ambassador.

“Many think he’s too dangerous. Words of freedom ring
like warning bells to those amongst the younger races,” Jita said.

They watched as Seles and Brian embraced.
“Are any
charges to be pressed against them?”

“No,” Jita answered. “He’s a special case. The laws
against interspecies mixing will likely be waived by those in power.”

“One of his crew members, the Maiden of Life is trying
to find a way to mix his blood with theirs. Are you against such research?”
Myden asked.

Jita turned to leave. “The
Maigars
of old will
walk the stars again one day. A great war is on the horizon and we’ll need all
the capable warriors the galaxy can offer. If they are pure blooded Terran or
half breed, it matters not. The power Terrans’ hold is the most powerful of
all, even surpassing ours General Myden.”

* * *

Mira sat alone in the Mjolnir and watched the
spectacle between Brian and Seles.
If I see them looking at each other like
that one more time I’m going to throw up.
She thought to herself as she let
out a long sigh. Brian and Seles emerged looking happy as they headed towards
the Mjolnir. As they went up they kissed again on the elevator. Once they
reached the top they found an irritated Mira staring at them.

“If you two don’t stop that I’m going to leave you
here,” Mira said.

Seles was surprised when Brian winked at her and
proceeded to kiss Mira. After a moment of confusion, she pulled back.

“There, now you don’t feel left out,” Brian said with
a smile.

Mira slapped him, “Jerk.”

Seles scowled at him.

“Alright, I get it,” he said as he sat down in the
pilot’s seat.

“He doesn’t get it, does he Seles?” Mira asked.

Seles sighed while shaking her head. “No, I don’t
think he does.”

He flew the Mjolnir into the sky. “Let’s go home.”

Celestia sat at her desk in her night gown and read
over copies of the documents Brian had sent to her. Frustrated, she stood up.
How
am I supposed to figure this out in only ten years?
She looked down at the
documents. “How could anyone think that this form of government is the best?”