Stolen Dreams (37 page)

 

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 be
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 Gabriels
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 holding a spear taller than he was stood guard in front of
the door. He was cleanshaven and his brown hair was cut bluntly above
his ears. The only clothing he wore were 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.

 

At
the top was an enclosed landing with two long tables—one empty, one
covered with stacks of gold and silver serving pieces. On the other
side of the landing, more stone steps went down in the opposite
direction from the cookery. They set their burden down and went back
for more while the other slaves began ladling the opium-laced drink
into ornate gold and silver chalices studded with gemstones. After they
brought up the last tureen, an older woman pointed
out the row of peepholes in the wall that the slaves used to watch the
meals progress and note any hand signals from the nobles. She quietly
demonstrated the different signals, then suggested Shara and Gabriel
watch until it was time to get the next course.

 

Shara and
Gabriel
stationed themselves at two adjacent peepholes, but had to bend down to
see through. Shara's gasp of wonder wasn't nearly as loud as Gabriel's
expletive, but they were both instantly warned to remain silent.

 

They
had a perfect bird's-eye view of the central court of the temple. The
landing and peepholes were placed just above the heads of the crowd of
nobles.