Call of Descent
Chapter Twenty-Seven

Renikoawoke groggily, her mind unable to focus on thoughts. As she opened her eyeshowever, her most recent memories came flooding back. The shackles on her armsreminded her that she was not at home back on Earth, but instead chainedmercilessly to a wall, the prisoner of some alien creature.

Sittingupright, she huddled next to the wall staring at the incense burner that wasplaced just out of her reach. Whatever they had placed in there had burned outcompletely. It had been the cause of Reniko’s long slumber and she was notlooking forward to anymore smoke billowing from the perforated bowl.

Herhead ached slightly from the inhaled drug and she tried to shake the fog fromit. Focus. She sighed and rubbed her head, she was having troublekeeping her thoughts in focus. Malik, what happened to Malik? She triedto recall the last moments she had seen him. He had been dragged out of thetorture chamber and out of view. She had not been allowed to follow, trapped byher own bargain. I hope he’s all right, who knows if Orborok truly intendedon keeping his word. I did all I could. She hung her head in despair, onlyto recall Orric’s words as he had left Malik and her days before. They rang inher head like a plea. If you two get into any trouble… They weredefinitely in trouble, but the thought of opening herself up to that againfrightened her. It’s the only choice. It’s all I can do now to make sureMalik is all right. Afraid to wait any longer in case the Rük decided tocheck the incense burner she closed her eyes and opened her connection withOrric. She felt him immediately, thankful that this time she was aware ofherself more than she was aware of him.

Theirconnection worked in a series of pictures and feelings and with the speed ofthought. Concentrating as hard as she could, she recalled the details of theprevious day and night and sent a plea that Orric replace Malik.

Orric’simmediate response was that he would come save her. She could sense him liftinginto flight as they were Engaged. Not knowing how to fully respond to this andfully resigned to accept her fate as captive to the Rük, she pleaded with Orricto replace Malik and care for him. She conveyed the hopelessness of the rescueattempt, as she was far underground and Orric himself was so susceptible to thefemale Rük’s toxins. With reluctance, Orric obeyed Reniko’s wishes. Forlorn andmelancholy, not wanting the comfort she knew Orric could offer her, she shutherself tightly becoming alone once again in the confines of her cell. Momentslater she heard the door to her cell open and a forest green Rük stepped intothe room, he bore not food for the hungry prisoner, but instead more incensefor the burner. Reniko watched bitterly as smoke again began to pour out fromthe bowl. As the Rük left, she tried to make her way over to the bowl, only tohave her shackled hands hold her inches away. Reaching out her foot she triedin vain to knock it over, to stop the inevitable poisoning of her body. Aftermany fruitless attempts, she crawled back to the edge of the cell, as far awayfrom the toxic fumes as possible, hoping that she could expose herself to themas little as possible. Nevertheless, the tiny cell filled from corner to cornerwith the pungent odour and soon Reniko began to feel lightheaded and dazed. Theydon’t want me to sleep this time, she thought, they only want me weakand disoriented. She dreaded what was to come more than the cold black ofsleep that they had imposed upon her previously.

Theyhad tossed Malik unceremoniously into a ditch that bordered the city walls.Lacking the strength to move, he moaned in pain as the cold mud seeped into hiswounds. He had never been so angry or felt so weak in all his life. Why? Whydid she do such a thing? He tried to stand only to have his legs give outunder his weight causing him to sink further into the mud. She gave themexactly what they wanted, how could she? He closed his eyes and breathed. Bythe goddess, I’m so tired. With that last thought he slipped intounconsciousness, alone and bleeding in the mire.

Renikocouldn’t have stood even if it meant that this terrible dream would end. Herlimbs felt weighted, her head foggy, and her thoughts floated around in herhead, intangible and chaotic. She barely registered movement as the door to hercell opened letting some of the haze filter into the dank hallway beyond.Orborok strode in, unaffected by the poisons that consumed Reniko. He walkedover to her and knelt beside her. Taking her chin in his hands he lifted hergaze to his.

“I’vealways admired the beauty of the female humans. There is so much diversityamongst your species that we do not have amongst our own woman. Your beauty isonly matched by the spirit which you hold inside, a grand prize to be sure.I’ve never known a human that could kill two of my elite guard so quickly andso efficiently. You would have made a fine white amongst our race. However, youwould have lacked the beauty that you hold. Kruok never stood a chance againstyou did she?”

Renikolooked into Orborok’s eyes unable to determine if the gray Rük wished her torespond to his question.

“Ina thousand years not one human has dared strike down a Rük. Everyone on Vespenknows that to do such a thing would mean certain death, but you? You strikewithout fear of us. Kruok offered up a very interesting theory about why youharbour no fear of the Rük. She suggested that you came from a distant star, aplanet by the name of Earth.”

Renikolooked up, her head still clouded. How was she supposed to respond, she didn’tknow what the right answer would be. Should she tell the truth or would a liebe better? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Reniko finally said. Herhead was swimming from the clouds of incense in the room.

“Oh,I think you do. You remain alive because I know you do.” Orborok releasedReniko’s head and she slumped back down onto the ground trying to fight off thecloud of thoughts that were rising unbidden to the surface of her mind.Memories of her childhood began to surface. Small fragments of her dancing in along white dress, laughing at the jokes of unseen faces, smiling at the sightof a woman she’d never seen before. Orborok’s words brought her out of herreverie.

“I’vegiven you this drug so you wouldn’t fight my guards. I don’t trust you wouldco-operate with them even if it means more comfort. We’ll have a longer talkabout your Earth soon. For now, I treat you as my guest. Don’t take myhospitality for granted, I can be as ruthless as I can be generous.” Orborokdisappeared into the hallway and was replaced by two cream coloured Rük.Unshackling Reniko’s arms, they hoisted her to her feet and pulled her alongdown the corridor. Halfway to their destination Reniko’s mind gave into thedrug and she lapsed into incoherent consciousness.

Orborokentered his quarters slamming the door forcefully as he went. It wasoutrageous, he, a Rük, being infatuated by such a creature. This human wasintoxicating. Even poisoned, the fierceness that he had seen the night beforecould not be cowed. Every human before had been unable to think logicallyenough to come up with a lie. The drug was meant to let the truth flow likewater. When he had entered that cell he had thought that he had won, that shewould tell him anything. Clearly he had underestimated the power she had. Sheis unaffected by intimidation, she has no fear. For a thousand years we havebred the fear of the Rük into the humans, that she does not harbour this is allthe evidence I need to know that she is not from Vespen. Even her comrade, thatfrail human boy feared me. He was a true child of Vespen, but her, she couldcause our downfall. Enraged, he let out a frustrated cry and smashed hishand onto a nearby table sending the contents of it flying to the ground. Shewill be mine. Orborok looked into the light of the day filtering in throughthe open window, his anger as hot as the sun. I will prove my worth to LordTrokar, and she shall be my key.

WhenMalik awoke, it was with the realization that he felt a lot better than he hadwhen he had fallen unconscious. As he opened his eyes he realized that thereason for the sudden comfort was because he was lying amongst piles ofblankets and his wounds had been cleaned and wrapped. Lacking his fullstrength, he didn’t rise fully from the confines of the blankets, but insteadjust lifted his head to get a better view of his surroundings. He saw themidnight blue of Orric’s backside and he laid his head back down and continuedto stare at the cave ceiling overhead.

“Howdid you replace me?” Malik asked. His voice was still weak from the torture he hadendured.

“Renikotold me to replace you,” Orric responded, his own voice laced with sorrow.

“You’vetalked to Reniko?” This fact made Malik’s heart sore. “Is she okay?”

“Idon’t know, she told me about you, said not to come after her and cut offcontact with me.” Malik realized the cause of Orric’s sorrow, he as well had toshare the burden of knowing that Reniko was in the hands of the Rük and therewas nothing he could do about it.

“Whywon’t she talk to you?”

“Shewas being drugged. I think she was afraid of losing control in our contact. Idon’t blame her. I don’t think she realizes that I have no intention of leavingher in the hands of those creatures.”

“Whatcan we do?” Malik asked.

“Anythingwe can. I’m not just going to sit in this cave and wait for them to kill her,or worse. She doesn’t understand what they are capable of.”

“Ithink she does,” Malik whispered. “The look in her eyes when that Rük grabbedher away from me. She was prepared. Prepared for death.”

“That’sthe problem, I don’t think the Rük intend to kill her.” Orric said finallyshifting his weight and turning to Malik.

“Whatdo they plan to do with her?”

“Whatwould you do if you were all powerful and suddenly had your hands on a wealthof technological knowledge.”

Malik’seyes widened with fear. “We have to get her out of there, and fast.”

Renikoopened her eyes to darkness. Where she was there were no windows to filter insunlight. Deep underground the only light was that of fire and the torches thathad lit her room and their light had died hours before. She didn’t care,however, about the lights. The poison cloud she had been forced to inhale hadcaused her body to reel with nausea. In an attempt to rid her system of thevile toxin her body responded by making her unable to hold down a meal. Shefelt herself shake violently and she rolled off her bed and crawled over to thebowl that lay nearby. They had come in twice to empty it, but Reniko didn’tcare. She threw up once again and collapsed on the floor next to the bowl tooweak to move. At this rate I’m never going to get my strength back, I can’teven keep down a bloody meal.

Whenshe heard the creaking sound of her cell door open her eyes flickered to thelight that followed the sound. Orborok stood in the doorway looking at Reniko’sfrail figure.

“I’vebrought you something to drink. It should stop the sickness that is ravagingyour body. In all my years, I have never seen a reaction quite like yours tothat.”

That?“What was that?” Reniko asked as she picked herself up off the floor and seatedherself on the edge of her bed. The room that the Rük had moved her into was alot more comfortable than the one she had been chained in before. Not only wasshe no longer chained to the wall, there was a bed and a table. It looked morelike lodgings at an inn than a prison. She had no complaints.

“Nevermind, you’ll never need to experience it again.” Orborok handed the steamingcup of liquid to Reniko who took it gingerly and looked inside. The smell waspleasant enough, but she had no idea why this Rük, Orborok, was suddenly beingso nice to her. Suspicious of his motives she held the cup in her hand, let thewarmth seep into her cold hands and, instead of drinking, looked to Orborok.

“Asfar as I was told, the penalty for killing a Rük was death.”

Orborokwinced at her bluntness. “True enough, but yours is a special case.”

“Idon’t see why,” Reniko said as she laid the cup onto her lap.

“Wellthat’s easy enough, you have information I need,” Orborok glanced at the cup inReniko’s hands, “Why don’t you drink? Do you wish to continue to feel ill?”

“You’vegiven me no reason to trust you,” Reniko replied. Orborok sneered at her,trying to hold back the anger that she so readily produced in him. I couldkill her where she sits and yet she still looks at me with no fear, almost asif she views herself an equal to a Rük. He grabbed the cup from Reniko’shand and took a long draught of the scalding liquid. He replaced the cup intoher hand and received a glare in return. Reluctantly Reniko took a sip of theliquid and turned her attention back to Orborok.

“Informationyou need?”

Orborokwas becoming continually more agitated. It’s like she feels she is incontrol of this conversation. He clenched his hand into a fist and held histemper.

“Informationof Earth, of the technology that this planet once harboured that brought youhere.”

“Technology,Earth? Your words hold no meaning to me?”

Orborokwas enraged, this girl was testing him in ways not even another Rük would dare.“Don’t toy with me child. I know you are not from Vespen, I know that you fellfrom that blue light outside of Cabitora. I know that you have all theknowledge I hold and more. You will not test my patience.” As he spoke, he hadclosed the gap that stood between Reniko and himself and with rage had lashedout and grabbed her throat forcing her against the wall. Reniko had dropped thecup she was holding and hung onto Orborok’s hand, helpless if he decided tocrush her throat. As he stopped talking, his anger died and he released herfrom his grasp. She rubbed her neck, shaken and a little frightened. That’sbetter, Orborok thought as he began to see the reality of her situationseep into her.

“Doyou know how old I am?” Orborok asked. Reniko shook her head afraid to sayanything.

“I’velived longer than most of the Rük on this planet. I was born shortly after mykind took control of this planet. Nine hundred and eighty seven years ago mymother gave me life. Do not think that I can be deceived easily. I have livedthrough many revolts and I have seen through the years what we have done toyour kind. There is not a single soul born on Vespen that does not harbour afear for the Rük, except you. You see, your fearlessness is all the proof Ineed that you do not belong here. For a thousand years your kind has servedmine, and in all that time, you are the first to kill more than one Rük. Yourskill with a blade tells me you are not from here as well. Only the Rük areable to carry and train with weapons, yet you show up in this fortress bearinga sword, and not just any sword, the sword of Shyla, the last real resistanceon this planet. To wield that you must carry great skill. Tell me, is itcustomary for all you earthlings to learn such skill?”

“I’mnot afraid to die,” Reniko whispered. Orborok’s eyes lit with fire, whatinsolence!

“Notafraid to die? Are you sure about that?” Orborok converged on Reniko again,however, she did not shrink away in fear, but boldly stood her ground all fearof him gone.

“Deathis a release,” Reniko said and closed her eyes to this world waiting forOrborok’s hand to close around her throat once again and squeeze the breathfrom her once and for all time. However it never came. Instead Orborok stormedtoward the door and paused to look back at his captive.

“Thereare much worse things I could do to you than give you the pleasure of death.Remember that.” With those words he slammed the cell door closed leaving Renikoagain to dwell in the darkness.

Oncealone she slid down onto her bed and shook. The adrenaline and peace she hadfelt fled and she was once again a terrified little girl alone on a planet nother own.

Orborokshook with fury. In all his long years he had never met a human like this one.Worst of all was that she so much reminded him of a Rük that the very thoughtof her tantalized him. She was unreachable, which was worst of all. He hadnever had anything out of his reach before. It was unthinkable for a lord suchas him to not get what he wanted. Yet here in this pitiful town, he had theunreachable. No matter that he held her body, her mind, her very spirit, flittedfrom his grasp toying with him.

Aknock at the door pulled him from his maddening thoughts, and as the dooropened, his anger surged. Pulling his knife from his belt he threw it as thedoor opened catching a yellow Rük between the eyes.

“Ido not want to be disturbed,” he shouted to the yellow-green Rük that stoodpetrified in the hall. With a small bow the Rük grabbed the lifeless body fromthe floor and closed the door softly behind him, leaving the enraged Orborokalone once again. I always get what I want. She will be mine.

Waitingalone with only her own thoughts she realized that Orborok was right, therewere things worse than death, and waiting as your captive decided what was theworst he could do was one of those things. It had been three long, unendingdays since she had last seen Orborok and her imagination was showing her thingsshe wished she could never think of. Having had no disturbance except for theoccasional Rük bearing food, Reniko became accustomed to the dark that was herroom and was soon deft at navigating it. Taking advantage of the solitude andfinally having recovered from the toxic incense, Reniko began her traininganew, her movements concealed by the darkness meant to hinder her. She knewthat whatever awaited her in the future she would be ready for it. Orborokwill regret giving me time to heal, she thought as she went through hermorning exercises.

Renikodid not have to wait much longer for her chance. Orborok entered her cell thatevening, this time he bore arms. In his hand Reniko saw the gleaming hilt ofImako. His first mistake, she thought, he still doesn’t realize thethreat I pose. He’s trapped by his own view of the limitations of humans.Unlike him, I’m not.

“Whatdo you know of this sword?” Orborok asked as he entered.

Renikodecided to play along. Instead of taking up her usual defense, she insteadreplied straightforwardly.

“Itwas given to me as a gift by a person who put a lot of trust in me. Later whenI met Malik, he told me that it was the sword of the goddess Shyla.”

“Ah,what a weaving of lies,” Orborok muttered.

“Lies?”

“Thisgoddess of the humans, it would be quite devastating for them to know that shewas merely a mortal, slain I might add, by my father’s hand. This sword causedme great pain. It gave me this wound here,” Orborok said thrusting aside hiscloak and exposing a jagged scar that marred the flesh of his abdomen.

“Yourstories don’t touch me I’m afraid,” Reniko said eyeing Imako. Orborok noticedher gaze falling on the sword and set it outside the door.

“Ithought that sword had been destroyed the day that it nearly killed me, imaginemy surprise when I see it strapped to the backside of a human. I’d be veryinterested in knowing where this friend of yours came from.”

“Why?So you can slaughter them. Why did you come down here? Did you really think Iwould answer such a thing?”

“Ofcourse not. I never believed that you would betray your kin, not to a Rük.”

“Sowhy come here? What do you want from me?”

“I’msimply making conversation.”

He’strying to figure me out, Reniko thought with startlingrealization.

“Answerjust one question for me,” Orborok pushed on, “tell me why you would trade yourlife for something inferior to your own? What did that boy have that allowedhis life to be more valuable than your own?”

Renikowas startled by this question and decided to answer it with honesty, in hopesthat somehow it would soften the ruthless creature before her. “He would, quitesimply, have done the same for me. He is my friend that was enough. I couldn’twatch a friend die.” She could see on his face that the very idea of this wasforeign to him. He’d never had friends as there was no need for them. He hadpower and that made people loyal, it also made it possible for him to useothers to save himself. The very idea of friendship screamed weak to Orborok.

Asthis new idea raged through Orborok’s mind, Reniko slid closer to him. Let’shope that their anatomy is not much different from humans, she thought.Orborok noticed her movement and was puzzled by it. Reniko did not give himtime to think beyond that stage instead she reached out and hit a series ofpoints on Orborok’s body. Stunned by this sudden act, Orborok grabbed Reniko’shand and stared into her eyes.

“Whatdo you think you are doing, little one?” he asked. He never heard the answerbut instead collapsed onto the bed rendered unconscious by the pressure pointsReniko had struck.

“I’mknocking you unconscious,” Reniko whispered into Orborok’s unhearing ear.

Quicklyshe ran from the room and grabbed Imako. Two guards stood outside her door;however, she had Imako unsheathed before the two Rük even realized that she wasnot their Lord Orborok. Holding the blade across the nearest guard’s neck shespoke, “Let me leave quietly or die.”

Theyellow Rük responded by reaching for his knife, Reniko didn’t even let himunsheathe it but ran the length of the blade across his neck. He fell lifelessto the ground shortly followed by the other guard who had made an attempt toavenge his partner’s death.

Renikopaused for a moment listening to her surroundings. She had no idea where shewas in the Rük’s underground labyrinth and figuring any direction was as goodas the other, she quickly chose a route and left her captor behind locked inthe very cell that she had been confined in.

“Let’ssee how you like it,” she mumbled as she wandered around a corner and out ofsight.