are, and you both looked pretty lost and confused. Second, I’ve never seen an Akana with that tattoo before. You see, the original thirteen who came to Musterion carrying that tattoo didn’t come from Soterion. So please tell me where you’re really from.”
This patrician didn’t miss anything. He made no effort to charm me first. He is going straight for the facts and he wants answers. But Omar tensed. After a moment of silence to gather his thoughts, he finally responded. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. I don’t see how that information has any relevance to your investigation. Just know that Myles and I mean you no harm. If you prefer, we’ll leave.”
Ischus slammed his fist down on the wooden table. The boom echoed throughout the library and the impact left a dent. A servant walking by in the hallway almost jumped out of his skin. Ischus took a deep breath. “You’ll have to excuse me, sir. I don’t often lose my composure. But then again, it isn’t often that someone tells me no. I understand that you don’t know how things work here. That’s why I struck the table and not you.”
His look took a threatening turn. “I rule this city, and I am the chairman of the Council of Seven. For all intents and purposes, I’m the king here and the penalty for not obeying my orders is usually death. Now I’m in no way threatening you at this moment, but I’m trying to make you understand your place here. The damage is already done. The Council of Six is waiting for me to appear before them and tell them why one of their people died in my city. I must and I will know who you are. There is no other option for you. I swear on my honor that I will protect your secret as long as your secret does no harm to my people. But I ask for the last time, where are you from?”
Omar breathed deeply and thought back quickly to all the history lessons he’d ever taken. He’d just flirted with death. To tell a king no was treason, and he was lucky to be alive right now. “Uh…ah…sir…I mean, Your Majesty, thank you for sparing my life and I apologize for my ignorance. I should’ve recognized your status. To answer your question, I’m actually a human, or what you’d call an Adam, from Earth, as is my friend, Myles. Somehow during our journey I was changed into what I am now and at that moment I acquired the 8-digit tattoo as well.”
Ischus dropped his tea and the cup shattered on the floor. A servant came to clean the mess, but Ischus stopped her, calling out. “You may clean it up later. I need everyone out, now! Put my ’Am Mayim guards at every corner of this building and make sure that there are no spies wandering about. Clear the hall completely; not even servants are allowed in until I give the word.”
The servant reacted with a look of fear but nodded, kept her head down, and quickly scampered off.
“Is everything all right?” Omar ventured, bewildered.
“Yes, I believe so, but you must come with me. I need to know every single thing that’s happened on your journey, and then I want you to tell me all about where you’re from.” Ischus went over to the books on the wall and pulled out a black, leather-bound book that caused the entire bookcase to open up, exposing a passageway behind it. Ischus pocketed the book and motioned for Omar to follow him through the opening. They went down a staircase to a large conference room containing a long table with seven chairs in the middle of the room. Ischus pulled a chair out for Omar took a seat at the head of the table. Ischus took out the book that he’d pocketed earlier and handed it to Omar with a smile.
The book was in German, one of the nine languages that Omar knew, so he read the cover out loud. Die Ganze Heilige Schrift, "The Bible". “Where in the world did you get this?”
Ischus explained, “Many years after the Twelve Elders had left us, Nekar, the thirteenth Adam who was left behind, came into the city and sat down at the
This patrician didn’t miss anything. He made no effort to charm me first. He is going straight for the facts and he wants answers. But Omar tensed. After a moment of silence to gather his thoughts, he finally responded. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. I don’t see how that information has any relevance to your investigation. Just know that Myles and I mean you no harm. If you prefer, we’ll leave.”
Ischus slammed his fist down on the wooden table. The boom echoed throughout the library and the impact left a dent. A servant walking by in the hallway almost jumped out of his skin. Ischus took a deep breath. “You’ll have to excuse me, sir. I don’t often lose my composure. But then again, it isn’t often that someone tells me no. I understand that you don’t know how things work here. That’s why I struck the table and not you.”
His look took a threatening turn. “I rule this city, and I am the chairman of the Council of Seven. For all intents and purposes, I’m the king here and the penalty for not obeying my orders is usually death. Now I’m in no way threatening you at this moment, but I’m trying to make you understand your place here. The damage is already done. The Council of Six is waiting for me to appear before them and tell them why one of their people died in my city. I must and I will know who you are. There is no other option for you. I swear on my honor that I will protect your secret as long as your secret does no harm to my people. But I ask for the last time, where are you from?”
Omar breathed deeply and thought back quickly to all the history lessons he’d ever taken. He’d just flirted with death. To tell a king no was treason, and he was lucky to be alive right now. “Uh…ah…sir…I mean, Your Majesty, thank you for sparing my life and I apologize for my ignorance. I should’ve recognized your status. To answer your question, I’m actually a human, or what you’d call an Adam, from Earth, as is my friend, Myles. Somehow during our journey I was changed into what I am now and at that moment I acquired the 8-digit tattoo as well.”
Ischus dropped his tea and the cup shattered on the floor. A servant came to clean the mess, but Ischus stopped her, calling out. “You may clean it up later. I need everyone out, now! Put my ’Am Mayim guards at every corner of this building and make sure that there are no spies wandering about. Clear the hall completely; not even servants are allowed in until I give the word.”
The servant reacted with a look of fear but nodded, kept her head down, and quickly scampered off.
“Is everything all right?” Omar ventured, bewildered.
“Yes, I believe so, but you must come with me. I need to know every single thing that’s happened on your journey, and then I want you to tell me all about where you’re from.” Ischus went over to the books on the wall and pulled out a black, leather-bound book that caused the entire bookcase to open up, exposing a passageway behind it. Ischus pocketed the book and motioned for Omar to follow him through the opening. They went down a staircase to a large conference room containing a long table with seven chairs in the middle of the room. Ischus pulled a chair out for Omar took a seat at the head of the table. Ischus took out the book that he’d pocketed earlier and handed it to Omar with a smile.
The book was in German, one of the nine languages that Omar knew, so he read the cover out loud. Die Ganze Heilige Schrift, "The Bible". “Where in the world did you get this?”
Ischus explained, “Many years after the Twelve Elders had left us, Nekar, the thirteenth Adam who was left behind, came into the city and sat down at the
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