The walls of the meeting room were completely covered in luminescent moss. The glittering, pulsating lights reflected off the stone floor and compounded on each other, making it the most brilliant room within the mountain. The effect was so stunning, the colonists had taken to calling it the Treasury. Here the council gathered to share the needs of the colony, welcome the Fallen, and make any assignments necessary to ensure the safety and care of those within Jericho.
As the Casper stepped into the Treasury his eyes immediately found Sebastian. The man was difficult to miss, even in the open air or surround by the towering building of Horus, but here in the enclosed quarters of Jericho, he seemed too big to be allowed. He towered over the rest of the Fallen. Casper felt tiny in comparison. Sebastian was easily half again as tall and twice as wide as he was. But then, Casper had to remind himself, it was in his blood. Early on in the settling of Horus, the elite had distanced themselves. They had bred exclusively, and the resulting generations were exquisite to behold. Beautiful, powerful, imposing -- the Aristo ruled their world with ease. No one questioned their reign. At least, not until very recently.
Sebastian studied the walls, plucking at the growing plant. He looked utterly bewildered, a sight Casper had rarely seen. He chuckled, understanding his confusion. This planet made little sense to him, too. But Sebastian had an inquiring mind and would no doubt be a great help in solving the many mysteries that Jericho afforded. Perhaps he could even help with the ore.
Casper broke away from Aurora to greet the giant. "Hail, Sebastian!" he called.
"Well met, Casper! You're alive! This place! How have you survived? What is this plant? Are all of the banished here? Everyone? Aurora hasn't been very forthcoming. How does this work?" His excited chatter made Casper again chuckle. Sebastian was the strangest Arist he had met.
"Calm, Basta, calm. Would you like me to answer or let you prattle on?" Sebastian closed his mouth sheepishly and nodded. Truly a unique Arist. "Yes, we are all here and all alive. Aurora found this cave before any of the rest of us Fell. It would seem the Overlord isn't aware that we've managed to survive or he wouldn't keep banishing more of us here. Least of all you." Casper paused and considered the large, gentle man beside him. He noticed now the bruising around Sebastian's hand and feet, evidence of ropes too tight. He recognized the same pattern he and so many of the other Fallen had worn. "What happened, Basta? How did you come to Fall? We never dreamed they would exile you."
Sebastian hung his head and slumped to the ground, all excitement gone. "There were deaths," he said simply.
Casper opened his mouth to ask more, but was stopped by the sound of Aurora's voice. "Well met, my friends," she addressed all in the room. I know you all must be weary. The Overlord's dungeons are not kind to his enemies." A pang of remorse flashed across her face, and Casper knew she was remembering her own time there. Many Fallen rubbed absently at their wrists as she continued. "I know it cannot be easy to be separated from your families and the lives you knew on Horus. But if you are here, it is because you are our family. We will take care of you. We take care of each other here." A wave of calm enveloped Casper. He knew she spoke the truth." We were one in our cause on Horus, and we are one here in Jericho. The Overlord may have cast us off but that was his mistake. Our fight is still important. Perhaps even more so now than before. Do not give up faith, my friends. The Fallen of Jericho will rise again. We will free Horus yet." Cheers erupted from the small crowd and Casper could not keep from joining them. Only Sebastian remained quiet, lost in his own thoughts. As the crowd quieted, Aurora continued, giving direction for accommodations and the dismissal of the newly Fallen.
Casper marveled at her ability to stir so much hope and ferocity in the hearts of these people. He knew their pain, the physical and the emotional. Cast out from the world they knew, separated from everything and everyone they loved, sent to die a slow and pitiable death. And yet she could make them forget all of that and continue the fight. Aurora was remarkable.
Only a handful of arrivals remained when Aurora joined Casper and Sebastian. "The council is meeting to hear your news, Sebastian."
He sat unmoved, unhearing. Aurora turned to Casper and he shrugged his shoulders in answer. "He hasn't spoken since you finished your welcome."
"Sebastian?" Aurora knelt in front of him, one and on his shoulder, the other in his open palm, and looked up into his unfocused eyes. They were quite the pair, Casper thought to himself. He the strong, powerful mammoth of a man, covered in fine apparel, his hair closely shorn, curled on the floor in a position that spoke of childlike fear, and she, the tiny, delicate, almost fragile girl, ragged and worn, comforting him with fierce, piercing eyes. She said nothing, but stared into his eyes until he finally stirred.
He nodded slowly and spoke, "I'm ready."
No comments:
Post a Comment