Today is the Day we Leave
by
Patrick Kapera
Today is the day we leave this accursed Empire...
Hekau powerfully strides through the Herculean halls of the
Senpet capital,his commonly distant eyes wild and darting, yet leveled directly
ahead of him. Those he approaches part for him, understanding immediately
that he is a man with a destination, and a purpose. And as he passes through
them, they suspect he may even be smiling.
"Hekau. Smiling. It's inconceivable," they mutter amongst
themselves before rushing away to avoid drawing his attention, or wrath.
His bald pate and gilded scabbard show brightly in the harsh noon sun between
the massive sculpted columns leading to the central, and tallest, pyramid
ahead. As he crosses the thoroughfare, he slows to avoid colliding with a
passing cart.The mule leading it halts, and grotesque sounds emanate from
it. His grin becomes a smirk and he turns to go around it, but only succeeds
in coming face to face with its owner.
Plump is a word used to describe people this man eats,
they think, looking down at his round body, gorged beyond human limits. He
is a monstrosity, the reason we hate them all. The merchant beams at Hekau,
flashing a pit of crooked and stained teeth. He is saying something apologetic,
but the Senpet only closes his eyes, hoping the freak will vanish to some
distant hell where he will never be seen again among those who can stand
under their power. When he opens them again, he sees that the man has indeed
gone, apparently replaced by another. Shorter and more squat, yet nowhere
neat the same bulk, the new man is of the City -quite far from home. His
beard is full and well-groomed, and he wears extravagant (though not incredibly
expensive) silks. A very tightly-wrapped turban tops his happy face. He is
laughing loudly, sweeping away the last vestiges of Hekau's smile. The hacking
sound is intolerable. And that is why we hate them, though they do have their
uses... Blinking at the odd sight, Hekau finds himself facing the huge
ebony-skinned merchant again, who is even now swiveling about on one leg
to round him, bleating more excuses as he does. Hekau's eyes trail the waddling
man for a few more steps before he decides that some things are better left
unexplained, and he continues toward the pyramid.
Passing under the Great Arch and its flanking guards,
he swiftly makes for the Royal Council Chambers. He is already late, and
Queen Hensatti rarely tolerates imprecision. Two minutes later, he sees the
blazing braziers outside the large chamber doors and the beginnings of a
smiles creep back into his grimacing mask.Today is the day we escape...
Outside the doors, sitting quietly within the hall, are
the entourage of Ramontet. Hekau did not realize that the planner would be
here. That would mean that this was a tactical conference, as well. That
changes things. As he places his hand on the cool, gold-plated door, Hekau
feels something heavy glance his ankle. Looking down, he sees that one of
the Thinkers' scrolls has fallen out of his reach. Picking it up and handing
it to the young man, he expects to see another of the endless line of uniformed
assistants Ramontet is so proud of. But what presents itself to him makes
no sense - not even in the frame of mind he was plagued with today. Sitting
cross-legged before him is another City-dweller, though of a far darker shade.
His clothes are voluminous, many more than any Thinker - and most Senpet
- would ever wear. They are stupid creatures, hiding within sweltering shells
when they should be screaming naked at the Sun for her betrayal.
His face is knowing, his eyes boring into Hekau like the
tip of the sharpest lance of the Senpet Legions. And he is mouthing something
Hekau cannot hear,silent words lost to the draft within the immense corridor.
Their only words are drivel, and we choose not to listen.
"Ahhh... Hekau!" Ramontet's voice carries through the crack
he has made in the doorway, his hand clutching the heavy portal's bar uneasily.
"Is something wrong?"
The door opens, and the planner looks from Hekau down to the
Thinker at his feet. Glancing back and forth from Ramontet to his assistant,
Hekau cannot remember noticing where the foreigner had gone. At the invitation
to enter,however, he hands the scroll back to the Thinker, and walks inside.
Cut into the side of the structure, the room's far wall opens up into the
clear sky, overlooking the whole of the Senpet capital. Ramontet is at his
side,guiding him to the others gathered at its edge. Bekhten and Hensatti
are speaking in low tones as they arrive, and turn to greet him. Bekhten
is particularly cheerful, his arms opening wide to welcome his former student
again. "How are you, good friend?" he asks of Hekau, holding him at arm's
length for inspection. "You look quite well!"
"I am well, Bekhten," Hekau answers calmly. He cannot reconcile
the odd feelings of resentment welling within him now, only able to fight
them down so that they do not show. But even that effort is telling, and
Bekhten recoils a bit, drawing his arms back into a defensive, and judiciary,
cross before him. Hensatti remains at the balustrade, gazing down into the
streets far below. Instinctively, Hekau moves to her side, joining her reverie.
He waits patiently for her to speak first, knowing not only his place, but
also her intent in bringing him here. The conversation has to be controlled,
and with the Pharaoh, this is a tricky proposition.
"It is majestic, is it not, Hekau?"
A vile prison, my warden. Release us, so that we may fly.
"It is the Great Eye of the Desert, my Pharaoh, watching us
that we may see."
"You are indeed eloquent, Hekau. You live up to all that has
preceded you," she says, glancing to Bekhten.
He is uncomfortable with her eyes - the way they are accommodating
and accusing all at once. "I have considered your proposal, highness, and
I have made my choice."
When he looks on Hensatti then, he sees another, but this time
he is prepared. He has seen this one before, with her long, flowing robes
and golden tresses cascading upon them. The smile returns to his face at
her image, and broadens when he sees a sleek cat perch upon the stone rail
at her side. We are meant to be together, Hekau. We are joined now, you and
I.I am inside you, and you are within me.We are unbroken, unbound...
Bekhten and Ramontet have come to face him as well, waiting
for his answer.Hensatti looks on him expectantly, the phantasm upon her gone.
But the cat remains. The cat remains.
"I will join Abresax and Kepsat at the City," he said to them.
"I am prepared for a greater, more active role in our Empire's future. I
ask to be given the opportunity."
There is a moment of introspection before Hensatti responds.
"Very well,then," and looking across at Bekhten, continues "Let us discuss
how we shall deal with these troublesome raiders at the City, shall we?"
Bekhten's concerned eyes follow Hekau back into the chamber.
***
The hours pass slowly, and by the time the sun's angry stare
disappears beyond the horizon, the talks of troops and strategy is finally
done. The four Senpet rise and prepare to leave when a small boy dashes into
the room and perilously launches himself at Bekhten. The smiling general
grabs hold of the little man, twirling him around in the council room and
laughing.Among those who have paused to watch, Hekau looks on... ...remembering
his own childhood, so many lifetimes ago.
The sun was bright and yellow overhead as Hekau raced through
the hills.Behind him, screaming as loud as he could, was his best friend,
Kepsat.
"Enjoying an afternoon away from the old, decrepit garrison
once in a while is good for young boys," Bekhten had told Kepsat's mother.
"They need the chance to run free, like the playful spirits they are."
She had been worried, of course, for both of them. Since Hekau's
own parents had been killed by the Yodotai two years before, he had been
raised by her.Kepsat's father was a soldier, like Hekau's had been, and was
rarely home to see them, and so the three of them had formed a close bond,
becoming as much like a family as could be expected.
"Wait for me, Hekau!" Kepsat called to him. "I'm not that fast,
remember?" Hekau only laughed, stumbling blindly forward into the mesa, happy
to finally be free of the ceaseless studying and swordplay. Ahead of him,rising
into the sky like a lazy cloud, he saw a dark form. Not sure what it was
at first, he turned to Kepsat, pointing before him, but found only miles
of unbroken sand there. Kepsat's trail vanished some fifty yards away,within
a low dip between the dunes.
Hekau could feel the presence of something gliding through
the air behind him,and when he turned to look, he saw...
...nothing.
He can remember nothing, not of the rest of that day,
or any day after that for twenty years. His life since then has been a
meaningless void, even though he is sure of where he has been, what he has
done. Others tell him that he vanished for three weeks as a boy, only to
return unharmed,untouched by the desert's wrath. They speak of his flawless
performance as a soldier for the last two decades, and how he has come to
be well-respected within the Senpet Legions, able to command any post he
could want. Which is exactly what he has done. He is ready to act on the
visions he has been having more and more often - for years. He is ready to
hunt down the terrors that haunt his waking days and sleepless nights. He
is ready to reclaim his life.
Bekhten's son, Gidirah, cradled within the proud man's arms,
arcs his head to look at the blanching Senpet, yet when his face is seen,
it is that of a scared, little girl. She is anything but weak, he realizes,
but she is terrified of something very near to her, and as the tears stream
down her lovely cheeks, he feels himself drawn to her."Help me, Hekau," she
whispers.
He turns and walks out of the room, uncaring or unwilling to
say anything to those within.
They are no longer your family, Hekau. We, the ones you see
in your restless eye... we are the ones you should call brother.
And as he races through the crowds at the thoroughfare, never
turning to look at the hated monuments of a dying people, the same words
continue to ramble through his mind, over and over again.You are finally
free.
We, the Qabal, await you...
Emerald Empire, Legend of the Burning Sands, the Legend of the Burning Sands logo, Shadow of the Tyrant, the Shadow of the Tyrant logo and all related marks, names and characters are tm and (C) 1995-1998 by Five Rings Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Card illustrations are (C) 1998 by the credited artists (Jewel of the Desert