"Paradox (story 2): The Backward Journey (Chapter 10)" by Steven P. Love

Chapter 10

         Tarnara had been sulking continuously during the humiliating journey back to her kingdom. As she watched her damaged cruiser still being repaired below she slapped her hands against the stone retaining wall of her balcony in a fit of rage. She then spun around to confront Lylithia.

         “Why didn’t you protect my cruiser,” Tarnara demanded angrily. “You could have stopped their weapon easily!”

         “Because, my dear Tarnara, the situation has become a bit more…complicated,” Lylithia admitted in a nonchalant voice as she finished healing Kupa’s crushed hand.

         “COMPLICATED,” Tarnara yelled while bristling at Lylithia with contempt. “What could be so complicated about killing Jahnus…unless you’re afraid of him?”

         “I fear nothing,” Lylithia snapped at Tarnara.

         “Then why did you keep your face hidden while that abhorrent creature was brutalizing my son,” Tarnara demanded loudly.

         “You tell her, mother,” Kupa concurred snobbishly as he flexed his newly regenerated fingers. He glanced at Lylithia as if he was snubbing her healing power. “She just stood by while that monster nearly tore my hand off.”

         Lylithia sneered at Kupa for his ungrateful attitude.

         “I think you’re a coward,” Tarnara taunted while grinning with vindictiveness. “I think you fought Jahnus before…and lost. Perhaps that is why you hid yourself like a scared little…”

         Without warning Lylithia reached out and seized Tarnara by her throat. She gasped for breath as Lylithia lifted her up to the point where her feet dangled in the air.

         “Mother,” Kupa exclaimed as he got up to defend Tarnara. With a gesture Lylithia telekinetically sent him flying backwards where he tumbled to the stone floor unconscious.

         “I have been searching 65 million years for a way to save my people,” Lylithia stated angrily while pulling Tarnara close to her face. “And now…through a miraculous quirk of fate I have finally been granted my one and only wish. But I will not have it jeopardized by an arrogant Queen who hasn’t the slightest inkling of how a time paradox works.”

         Lylithia then tossed Tarnara to the stone floor. She cried out in pain as her frail legs buckled under the stress of the fall.

         “From this point forward you will do as I say,” Lylithia commanded.

         “I bow to no one,” Tarnara yelled defiantly as she struggled to her feet and grabbed an antique sword from a nearby wall armament display. She made an angry war cry while lunging at Lylithia.

         Lylithia laughed as she telekinetically threw Tarnara backwards.

         “My poor Tarnara,” Lylithia said in a mocking tone as she walked casually over to Tarnara’s sprawled form and knelt down. “I could squash you like an insect if I chose to. When will you learn that you don’t have the power to oppose me?”

         Tarnara looked up at a gloating Lylithia.

         “You know that I will never obey the likes of you,” Tarnara said defiantly with a wheezy cough. “So why don’t you save us both the trouble and just kill me.”

         Lylithia giggled. “Don’t worry…I will not kill you just yet. I have plans for you and your son.” Lylithia then waved her hand over Tarnara and a soft sun-like glow from the palm of her hand healed Tarnara’s injuries.

         Upon being healed Tarnara got up and quickly scurried over to a bench where she sat down breathing hard from the experience. She gasped with worry at the sight of her still unconscious son.

         Lylithia calmly walked over in front of Tarnara and smiled.

         “Don’t worry, Tarnara, your son is not permanently damaged,” Lylithia assured in a casual voice. “Tell me…what do you know of the Tauri?”

         “The Tauri,” Tarnara echoed with surprise.

         “What exactly does it involve,” Lylithia asked curiously.

         “You’re from the future…don’t you already know,” Tarnara asked sarcastically.

         “As I’ve told you before…I was a very young child when our civilization was destroyed,” Lylithia reiterated with obvious irritation in her voice. “I have very little knowledge of…certain ancient customs. Now…answer my question; what does the Tauri involve?”

         Tarnara chuckled sarcastically. “Nothing complicated…just a fight to the death.”

         “Really,” Lylithia said with an expression of interest. “Tell me more.”

         “Why,” Tarnara asked with an expression of defiance. “What is so important about an obsolete ritual?”

         “Just tell me about the damned Tauri,” Lylithia demanded angrily.

         Tarnara sighed with disgust.

         “Long ago…in the barbarism of our distant past a Vekolth woman was a very rare…commodity,” Tarnara explained in a grim tone. “In those days many Vekolth men fought to the death over the few females of breeding age. When the first Kingdoms were founded this challenge of Death evolved into a ritualized custom accepted between the kingdoms of the time.” Tarnara sighed as she remembered her history. “Then a thousand years ago, at the dawn of our ‘Age of Enlightenment’, the Tauri was eventually abandoned to history.”

         “How interesting,” Lylithia remarked with a devious smile.

         “What are you scheming in that twisted mind of yours,” Tarnara asked with a suspicious tone.

         Lylithia chuckled. “I think we should bring the Tauri Death Challenge back into fashion.”

         “Are you insane,” Tarnara scoffed. “The Vanadians will never accept the return of such an archaic custom.”

         “Kupa is Obsidyanna’s betrothed, is he not,” Lylithia asked rhetorically.

         “So,” Tarnara acknowledged sarcastically.

         “Then it is within Kupa’s right to declare a Tauri against Jahnus…correct,” Lylithia asked.

         “Perhaps legally…but what would my son have to gain from such a challenge,” Tarnara asked with a suspicious expression.

         “Only the throne of Vanadis,” Lylithia stated with her usual devious grin.

         “Don’t play games with me, witch,” Tarnara growled angrily. “Why would you even suggest such a preposterous plan?”

         Lylithia giggled. “I must make a confession. One of my…gifts…is the ability to read the thoughts of others.”

         “What,” Tarnara said with an expression of shock.

         “You asked me why I kept myself hidden while Jahnus was assaulting your son,” Lylithia reminded Tarnara. “The truth is…I needed a distraction. You and your son provided that distraction. And I must say…both of you played your parts well.” Lylithia then let out a short giggle.

         “You used us…you used us to do your dirty work,” Tarnara yelled angrily.

         “Unlike your plan to poison Trekell at least mine produced some useful results,” Lylithia reminded Tarnara.

         “That did not give you the right to use my son as your personal pawn,” Tarnara yelled.

         “It was necessary,” Lylithia shot back. “Even though I was only reading his surface thoughts a being as powerful as Jahnus could have sensed my telepathic probing. Your son’s confrontation with Jahnus allowed me to complete my work undetected.”

         Tarnara scowled. “I hope this…mind probing of yours was worth the pain my son endured.”

         “Oh yes…it most definitely was worth his pain,” Lylithia said with glee as she sat down beside Tarnara.

         Tarnara moved as far to the other side of the bench as she could to keep some distance from Lylithia.

         Lylithia then looked hard into Tarnara’s angry eyes. “I will tell this…Jahnus has no conscious memories of his past. He doesn’t even remember his true name…Jonathan Kearny.”

         “That’s impossible,” Tarnara said with shocked disbelief in her eyes.

         “It’s true,” Lylithia affirmed. “As a matter of fact Jonathan’s mind was virtually a blank slate until he was awakened by the Vanadian Princess. It was she who gave him the name of our ancient ancestor and it was Trekell that allowed her to parade this imposter around Vanadis as our savior.”

         “That’s absurd,” Tarnara yelled with a surprised expression. “Why would Trekell allow his daughter to foster such a deception?”

         “Possibly to keep the Fundamentalist in line, I suppose. When I briefly probed Trekell’s mind I discovered that he has been having problems with them lately,” Lylithia stated.

         Tarnara chuckled. “I can sympathize with that. The religious extremists have been a thorn in my tail for quite some time as well.”

         “I am, however, more curious about what I read in the Princess’s mind; she was absolutely terrified at the thought of Kupa declaring a Tauri against Jonathan…or rather Jahnus, as the Princess prefers to call him. We could exploit this fear.”

         “I don’t understand. Why must you put my son in danger by having him fight a pointless and archaic death ritual,” Tarnara asked bluntly. “This Jonathan creature could kill him.”

         “Not if I gave Kupa my strength,” Lylithia suggested with a smug grin.

         Tarnara growled with contempt at the notion.

         Lylithia sighed with frustration. “Look…if there is any hope of breaking this paradox and saving our people from extinction I need to discover why Jonathan is he is here and why he does not remember his own identity. He could hold the key to everything.”

         “You and your paradox can be damned,” Tarnara scoffed. “I will not let you use my son as a pawn again.”

         “Even if it means having the opportunity to kill this imposter posing as our sacred ancestor,” Lylithia asked point blank.

         “Impossible…this Jonathan is immortal,” Tarnara countered. “My son has no hope of killing him.”

         “Yes…Jonathan is immortal,” Lylithia acknowledged as she looked upward at the twilight sky. “But he is not invincible, at least not yet. Right now his lack of memory is what makes him vulnerable.”

         “Then kill him yourself,” Tarnara challenged.

         Lylithia sighed as she turned to look at Tarnara. “Remember how I told you that the situation had become more…complicated?”

         Tarnara simply crossed her arms in acknowledgement.

         “During my first mind probe of Jonathan I could not tell if his memory had been erased or simply suppressed,” Lylithia explained. “If he is simply suffering from some kind of amnesia using my powers openly against him could trigger the return of those memories. If that were to happen he could conceivably annihilate anyone who opposed him…including me. For all I know the destruction I remembered as a child might have been caused by Jonathan fighting me here in a prior timeline.”

         “What are you talking about,” Tarnara asked with a confused expression.

         “Temporal paradoxes are endless loops in Time,” Lylithia tried to explain. “The end is the beginning and the beginning is the end. All of this…everything you know…could have happened before from my perspective.”

         Tarnara shook her head with confusion.

         “This doesn’t make any sense to me. If this is history somehow repeating itself then why didn’t you simply warn your younger self in the prior time-loop,” Tarnara asked curiously. “You could have broken the paradox long ago by simply helping the child that is you now.”

         “I have no memories of meeting myself,” Lylithia confessed grimly. “Which means that I either chose not to interact with my younger self for some reason or…I did not survive the destruction as I am now. My younger self would have grown up alone and doomed to repeat the same mistakes.”

         “If what you’re saying is true, then how could my son hope to defeat this Jonathan and help you break this supposed Paradox,” Tarnara asked with a more desperate expression.

         “I believe this’ll even the odds,” Lylithia stated confidently as she revealed a crystal dagger from inside her cloak and presented it to Tarnara. “I created this from a shattered piece of crystal that was part of your Cruiser’s damaged Plasma Canon.”

         “How can this help my son,” Tarnara asked with skeptical curiosity.

         “Earlier…when you surmised that I had fought this creature before…you were correct,” Lylithia explained with a smug smile. “Before I was sent to this Time I was in a desperate battle against Jonathan. During that battle one of his half-breed allies stabbed me with a blade just like this one. It absorbed my power, temporarily weakening me. I barely survived. But now…because of Jonathan’s memory loss he will not be aware of what this blade is capable of.” Lylithia let Tarnara feel the dagger in her own hands. “If Kupa were to impale Jonathan at the right moment the blade will weaken him to the point of mortality.”

         “And how does this help you,” Tarnara asked with a sarcastic tone.

         Lylithia grinned. “If your son is successful Jonathan will be weakened enough so that I can rip the information I need from his mind. After that…your son will be free to kill this imposter, reclaim his honor and…reclaim the Princess. That is what you want…isn’t it?”

         Tarnara’s eyes widened with glee at the prospect of her son avenging his earlier humiliation. “What must we do?”

         Lylithia smiled as she got up and went over to Kupa’s unconscious form. She waved her hand over him.

         “Arise, Kupa,” Lylithia commanded as a sun-like glow from her hand revived Kupa.

         He groaned with grogginess as he awakened and began to stand. Lylithia quickly seized Kupa by his head and stared into his barely open eyes.

         “Take my strength, Prince of Xian,” Lylithia declared as an aura formed around both of them. “Now…you will avenge your dishonor and reclaim what is yours.”

         Even from the balcony of his Royal Guest Suite Jahnus could hear the cheers and chants of the crowds below still celebrating their new found ecstasy.

         “How are you feeling,” Obsidyanna asked as she came up behind Jahnus.

         Jahnus smiled as Obsidyanna came up alongside him and put her hand affectionately around his waist.

         “I’m a little tired. Powering the City’s defenses took a lot out of me but I should recover,” Jahnus assured Obsidyanna as he continued looking down at the celebratory gatherings in the streets below. “The people are still chanting my name…or rather the name you gave me.”

         “It’s only natural…you did heal them of the Plague after all,” Obsidyanna reminded Jahnus. “Not to mention the fact that you saved us from being nuked by Tarnara.”

         “I know,” Jahnus acknowledged with a sigh. “It’s just that…well…I had no idea that this would be the outcome. I did not save your people so that they could worship me like some kind of God.”

         “What you intended to do and what actually happened no longer matters, Jahnus,” Obsidyanna told him as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “All that matters now is that my people are finally free of the pain and misery that had been their lives for the last three generations. We are forever in your debt.”

         Jahnus appeared to be troubled.

         “What’s wrong,” Obsidyanna asked curiously.

         “I have this…feeling…that we have not heard the last of Tarnara,” Jahnus stated in a foreboding tone.

         “I wouldn’t worry about her,” Obsidyanna assured Jahnus.

         Jahnus chuckled. “I wish I had your confidence. If I were Tarnara I would be plotting a new attack.”

         Obsidyanna smirked. “Now that she knows what you’re capable of she would not dare attack us again, especially now that we’re getting married tonight.”

         “I would not be so sure of that,” Trekell said in a grim voice as he came onto the balcony.

         Slightly startled, Obsidyanna and Jahnus turned to face Trekell.

         “You should really learn to keep your door locked,” Trekell chided Jahnus with a smile. “You never know who might just drop by unannounced.”

         “Is there a problem, Father,” Obsidyanna asked with an expression of apprehension.

         “I’m not entirely certain, my daughter,” Trekell confessed as he turned toward his suspiciously inquisitive daughter. “I just received a communiqué from Tarnara.”

         “Has she discovered our mining crew on the secondary moon,” Obsidyanna asked anxiously.

         “There’s no indication that she’s aware of that,” Trekell answered with reasonable confidence.

         “Then what does she want,” Jahnus asked curiously.

         “All she would reveal is that it was a matter of honor for her son,” Trekell replied in a cynical tone.

         Obsidyanna rolled her eyes in dismay. “Great Maker…I knew it!! Kupa is going to declare a Tauri!”

         “I suspect that as well,” Trekell concurred

         “Would someone please tell me what this Tauri is,” Jahnus asked with an expression of confusion.

         Trekell sighed with hesitation. “It’s an archaic combat ritual from our distant past that we’re not very proud of.”

         “Combat…as in hand to hand fighting,” Jahnus asked curiously.

         “You could say that,” Trekell said in an evasive tone.

         “No problem,” Jahnus chuckled. “I’ll mop the floor with him.”

         “It’s not that simple,” Obsidyanna stated. She then glared at Trekell. “Tell him, Father. He needs to know everything.”

         Trekell sighed. “If you accept the challenge you must fight Kupa to the death.”

         Jahnus chuckled. “You can’t be serious.”

         “I’m quite serious,” Trekell affirmed. “Kupa will fight you to his last breath.”

         “But…he knows how strong I am,” Jahnus stated with disbelief. “He’ll be throwing his life away.”

         “That won’t matter to him,” Trekell explained. “You not only injured him physically but you also accepted my daughter’s affections in front of him and his mother. As primitive as this may seem he was grievously dishonored. From his perspective it would be better to die fighting a superior opponent than live in shame.”

         “What would happen if I simply refused to fight him,” Jahnus asked.

         “When my daughter was still a child I signed a peace Treaty with Tarnara that betrothed Obsidyanna to Kupa,” Trekell explained with regret in his voice.

         “Yes, I’m somewhat aware it,” Jahnus confirmed as he glanced at Obsidyanna.

         “One of the Treaty’s stipulations is that if no other worthy suitor came forward to pledge himself to Obsidyanna she would become Kupa’s wife when she came of age,” Trekell further explained with a sigh of regret. “If Kupa does declare a Tauri and you don’t fight him to the death then I would have to let him take possession of Obsidyanna in accordance with the Treaty. And I have to be honest with you; as a father I would regret it for the rest of my life if I did not at least ask you to fight for my daughter’s sake.”

         “I understand,” Jahnus sympathized with Trekell. Jahnus then looked at Trekell with an expression of dismay. “I do have to wonder, though; why did you sign that Treaty to begin with. Please forgive my rudeness but…signing over your daughter to stop a war? That seems to be as archaic as this Tauri you told me about.”

         Trekell shrugged. “Looking back on it I can’t agree more. But during that time in our history our situation was becoming desperate. Our resources were becoming scarce and our people were dying of the Plague. I had to end the war so that we could focus on caring for our people. I made a decision that I hoped would not come back to haunt me. Fortunately your arrival changed that.”

         “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately,” Jahnus said in a slightly sarcastic tone. “Fine…I’ll fry him when the challenge begins. That will end the threat and put Kupa out of his misery.”

         “No…you can’t do that,” Obsidyanna blurted out. “If you kill him without honor the Fundamentalists will have an excuse to seize power in Xian and declare an all out war against us.”

         “She’s right,” Trekell confirmed grimly. “Tarnara and Kupa are the only ones keeping the religious zealots from taking over Xian and its nuclear weaponry. We have to follow the old rules, as archaic as they are. If Kupa is to die it must be with honor. Otherwise the Fundamentalists will demand revenge and I don’t think even you can defend us if they take over Xian and launch all of their nuclear weapons at once.”

         “Wait a minute…I thought Tarnara was already at war with you,” Jahnus recalled with a confused expression.

         “Technically she is,” Trekell concurred. “But Tarnara is not a fool. She knows that any military assault will only result in a retaliatory strike from us and the result would be the annihilation of her own kingdom. But the religious fanatics, however, won’t care about Xian’s annihilation. They only care about satisfying their own twisted sense of honor so that they’ll enter what they view as Heaven upon their deaths.”

         Jahnus chuckled sarcastically with disbelief. “Great…”

         Obsidyanna huffed with disgust and disappointment. “This ruins everything.”

         Jahnus stepped in front of Obsidyanna and gently put his hand under her chin, making her look up into his eyes. “This is just a postponement, my Princess. I’m sure we can resume our wedding plans tomorrow night after this matter with Kupa is taken care of.” He then gave her a reassuring kiss.

         Jahnus then turned back to Trekell. “All right, what do I have to do to keep this fight…honorable?”

         “Most likely Tarnara will want to have the contest at high noon in our old Arena,” Trekell surmised. “If you’re up for a late night session I’ll personally train you in the basic fighting maneuvers that Kupa will most likely use. I am an expert at all the fighting arts.”

         “Well…I haven’t had a need for sleep yet,” Jahnus stated with a confident smile. “Let’s go for it.”

         Trekell nodded with approval while Obsidyanna simply sighed with apprehension.

         The Royal gymnasium, like the rest of the Palace, was extremely spacious and adorned with works of art and tapestries. The only difference was that these adornments were mostly on the ceiling. The walls were lined with padding and the floor was made of a flexible wood that creaked with every footstep. Since it was late Trekell and Jahnus would have it pretty much to themselves.

         After donning tight fitting sparring uniforms they walked over to a cabinet near the main entrance. Trekell handed Jahnus a wooden implement shaped like a broadsword. Jahnus smirked as he twirled the mock blade in one hand.

         “Cute,” Jahnus remarked with a humorous smile. “Looks like a giant wooden butter knife.”

         “I decided to use training swords rather than the real ones,” Trekell informed Jahnus with a grin.

         “Worried that you’ll cut me,” Jahnus chuckled.

         “I’m more worried that you’ll cut me,” Trekell confessed. “I don’t think Obsidyanna would appreciate you accidentally cutting my head off.”

         Jahnus laughed at first but then fell silent as if in a brief trance.

         “Are you all right,” Trekell asked.

         “Uh…yeah,” Jahnus replied hastily as he snapped out of his trance-like appearance. “It’s just that your remark about cutting your head off kind of reminded me of something…” Jahnus sighed and then smiled at Trekell. “I suppose I’ll remember eventually.”

         “Sword dueling is a very ancient form of combat and was widely used as the opening phase of a Tauri,” Trekell explained. “If Kupa follows the old traditions this is how he will begin the challenge.”

         “Sounds like a reasonable assumption,” Jahnus concurred as both of them walked toward the center of the floor. “What kind of fighting art will I need to know if we get past the swords?”

         “Very few Tauri challenges ever went past the sword stage,” Trekell stated with a serious expression. “Shall we begin?”

         As Trekell raised his sword vertically to initiate the start of the training session Jahnus could not help but feel a sense of familiarity with this situation.

         It was just before dawn when Tarnara was awakened by a thunderous boom that seemed to echo throughout the castle. Worried that Trekell had reneged on his agreement she quickly slipped on her robe and scurried to her balcony. But instead of bearing witness to an attack by the Vanadians she was horrified to see her own son terrorizing the citizens of Xian by hurling boulders and blocks of stone at their homes. Tarnara growled with contempt as she rushed out of her chambers.

         Kupa let out a maniacal laugh as each block of stone smashed the walls of the small wooden octagon shaped homes near the castle. One old man was on his knees begging Kupa to spare his home. Kupa remorselessly flung a boulder right over the old man’s head where it smashed into his meager dwelling.

         Lylithia, sitting nearby on the rear of a farm tractor, giggled with each destructive move Kupa made.

         Feeling the need for something even more devastating Kupa wrapped his arms around a tree trunk and proceeded rip it from the ground. He growled with glee as the massive roots began snapping from his new found immense strength. But before he could tear the tree free of the ground he was distracted by his mother gaping at him as she pulled up in her Saurian-drawn carriage.

         “By the Maker…what on Gaia do you think you’re doing,” Tarnara yelled as she got out of her carriage and headed toward Kupa as fast as her frail legs would scurry along.

         Kupa appeared embarrassed as Tarnara approached him with an angry gape. Unsure of how to answer his angry mother Kupa let the partially uprooted tree go where teetered precariously behind him.

         “Aren’t you going to answer me, boy,” Tarnara demanded.

         “Sorry, mother…I…it’s just that…well…I’ve never felt so strong and powerful before,” Kupa haphazardly explained.

         Tarnara turned toward Lylithia, who was still giggling nearby.

         “Did you put him up to this…this mayhem,” Tarnara demanded angrily.

         Lylithia shrugged and appeared nonchalant. “He needed to vent some repressed anger.”

         Kupa chuckled with a vulgar snort. “I feel much better now.”

         Tarnara sneered with contempt. “Get back to the castle and dress yourself appropriately. We’ll be leaving for Vanadis in an hour.”

         As Tarnara stormed back to her carriage the tree behind Kupa finally toppled over. Kupa glanced back at it and grinned.

         After several hours of orbiting Gaia the Vanadian ore ship finally docked inside the old mining station’s hangar bay on the surface of the asteroid sized secondary moon. Avra led the way as he and 50 other technicians made their way down the dark stairway into the station’s sub-lunar complex. Due to the low gravity they had to use magnetic boots to keep from bouncing off the stair case as they descended. Upon reaching the main airlock door Avra opened the cover of a nearby control panel. He inserted a key-like tool into a receptacle and rotated it 90 degrees clockwise. When the key locked into place the panel suddenly lit up along with the other lights in the stairway and inside the airlock. Avra then touched several buttons on the panel in sequence. The airlock opened and a rush of air flowed into the stairway.

         Avra then grabbed his spacesuit helmet and raised the visor. He turned to the other technicians and signaled with a thumbs-up that they could also raise their visors.

         “Okay everyone, right now the station is running off the ore ship’s engine power,” Avra explained. “I need the main fission reactor up and running within the next hour or we’ll be living permanently on this rock.”

         “Doctor Avra,” a young male technician asked in a hesitant voice as Avra looked at him with a slight scowl. “This station has been sitting idle for over 50 years. What if the reactor shielding or cooling conduits are cracked?”

         “Then put some duct tape on it and pray that it holds until we’re finished here,” Avra replied sarcastically. He then looked at all the other technicians. “I need you all to be positive about this. We cannot go back without a new crystal for Vanadis so let’s not look for problems before we find them, alright? Now, everybody to work, we’re on a clock here.”

         All the techs then marched through the airlock to begin their pre-assigned tasks.

         Unable to sleep Obsidyanna paced in her chambers anxiously. The morning sun had just begun to stream into her windows when the door chime rang. She immediately rushed to open the door and to her relief it was Jahnus. She embraced him happily. When she let go Jahnus noticed how nervous she appeared.

         “Are you all right,” Jahnus asked.

         Obsidyanna sighed and appeared to be on the verge of crying. “Of course I’m not all right. I’m a nervous wreck because the one I love is about to enter into a stupid obsolete death ritual.”

         “Don’t worry,” Jahnus reassured her with a soft voice as he gently brushed back a few stray feathers from the little spike-like ridges on her forehead. “I’ll be fine. Besides, we still don’t know for certain that Kupa will declare a Tauri. He might just want an apology.”

         Obsidyanna let out a sarcastic giggle. “I really doubt that Kupa and that swamp lizard of a mother he has would come all this way just to ask you to say you’re sorry for crushing his hand yesterday.”

         “If he is still wounded then he won’t be in very good shape to fight me,” Jahnus concluded confidently. “And if he’s stupid enough to challenge me with only one good hand then it will be a very short Tauri.”

         Obsidyanna sighed. “I hope you’re right because I have this really, really bad feeling.”

         Jahnus gave her a reassuring embrace.

         “Regardless of what happens, I’ll be there for our wedding tonight,” Jahnus told her confidently. “I promise.”

         “I don’t like this,” Tarnara said in an apprehensive voice. “There is nothing to stop them from blowing us out of the sky. We should have waited until my war cruiser was repaired.”

         “They won’t attack,” Lylithia told Tarnara in an assured voice.

         “What makes you so sure,” Tarnara asked with a skeptical expression.

         Lylithia grinned. “Because they know that if you die the radicals will take over your kingdom. And they don’t want that any more than you do.”

         Tarnara scoffed in response to Lylithia’s cold appraisal of her kingdom’s politics.

         Unlike their first meeting at the main gate to the city Trekell chose to dispense with the protocols and had Tarnara’s party escorted directly to the Palace’s Great Hall, and this time her guards were ordered to remain at the shuttle. When Tarnara and Kupa entered through the majestically high arched doors they found Trekell sitting on his gold adorned throne with Jahnus standing on his right and Obsidyanna on his left. Tarnara sneered at Trekell.

         “I am not pleased that my guards were not allowed through your gate, Trekell,” Tarnara griped.

         Trekell shrugged. “Sorry for the inconvenience, but after our last meeting I felt it best that they remain outside this time.”

         “How’s the hand,” Jahnus asked Kupa with a smirk.

         Kupa raised his previously crushed hand and flexed it into a fist as if in defiance of Jahnus’s taunt. “It’s much better now.”

         “My congratulations to your doctor then,” Jahnus remarked with another smirk.

         Kupa growled at Jahnus’s insolence.

         “What do you want, Tarnara,” Trekell asked bluntly.

         Tarnara let out a slow laugh. “What do I want, you ask? That question is best answered by my son.” She then looked at Kupa and gestured for him to speak his mind.

         Kupa grinned as he stepped forward and stared hatefully at Jahnus. “I have come to invoke the ancient rite of the Tauri!”

         “Great Maker,” Obsidyanna scoffed.

         “Are you sure you want to rush into this,” Jahnus asked with a sarcastic smile. “You do remember what happened the last time you provoked me, don’t you?”

         Kupa growled at Jahnus with contempt. “If you have any honor you will face me in the Tauri so I can tear you open and hang your alien entrails out for all to see!”

         “I guess that means a simple apology is out of the question,” Jahnus surmised sarcastically.

         “The challenge has been declared,” Tarnara affirmed. She then glared at Jahnus. “Will you accept the Tauri…Jahnus?”

         Jahnus stepped forward and looked into Tarnara’s angry eyes. “You must realize that your son has no chance against me. Are you prepared to see him die?”

         “If death is his destiny…then so be it,” Tarnara stated with a cold stare. “But I think it is you who should be concerned…Jahnus.”

         Jahnus sighed with resignation and dismay as he stepped back over beside Trekell’s throne.

         Trekell stood up and looked down at Tarnara and Kupa.

         “Very well,” Trekell acknowledged. “In accordance with tradition the Tauri will commence in the ancient Arena at noon today.”

         Tarnara smirked as she and Kupa turned to leave.

         “They seem so…obstinate,” Jahnus said to Trekell in a low voice.

         “You have no idea,” Trekell concurred grimly.

         Obsidyanna simply crossed her arms in frustration and sighed with disbelief.

         The Arena was the only structure in Vanadis that dated back to the days of the kingdom’s inception. Constructed of old stone and mortar it was dwarfed by the solar array and the towering adamantine spires of the Palace. For the last century very few Vanadians visited it. Most considered it an eyesore and actually wanted it torn down. A small historical group, however, decided to preserve it as a reminder of the Vekolth’s barbaric beginnings. Now, after sitting dormant for nearly a millennium, the ancient stadium was filling with crowds anxious to see Jahnus battle the son of their hated enemy.

         At the same time a smaller group of Fundamentalist congregated in the front rows of seats near the center of the arena. Many of them wore very conspicuous white robes that drew glares of disdain and contempt from the rest of the Vanadians in the surrounding stands. For the Fundamentalist it was a chance to see a traditional Vekolth Prince take on what they viewed as an alien outsider who had come to corrupt the Vekolth and steal their Princess from her rightful betrothed. Jakor, who was the one who brought Jahnus to the attention of Tarnara, was also among the group. He glared with scorn at the Princess above in her balcony. She saw his stares and scoffed at him.

         “Is all this necessary,” Jahnus asked Doctor Grekar as assistants helped him don the complicated battle armor. “I mean it’s not like Kupa can actually kill me…right?”

         “Perhaps not, but to the average Vanadian appearances are very important,” Grekar remarked while taking a walk around Jahnus, as if inspecting the armor for battle worthiness. “Very good, makes you appear valiant and traditional.”

         Jahnus chuckled. “Don’t you have patients to attend to, Doctor?”

         “Not really,” Grekar stated. “Your outburst of healing energy has pretty much left the hospitals empty. I figured coming here and witnessing an old fashioned Tauri would help me pass the time more enjoyably than treating stubbed toes and splinters.”

         Jahnus simply chuckled and shook his head in astonishment.

         “Sit down,” Tarnara yelled to Kupa as he paced in the small dimly lit chamber anxiously. Only the narrow door leading out onto the arena field provided light into the chamber.

         “I’m sorry, mother,” Kupa apologized. “It’s just that…I can’t wait to do battle. I feel victory is within my grasp!”

         “Do not forget, Kupa,” Lylithia reminded as she handed him the crystal dagger. “Keep this hidden until the right moment, and then stab it into the temple of his head.”

         Kupa looked at the blade curiously. “This will kill him?”

         “Not right away,” Lylithia replied with a smirk. “But it will weaken him, giving me the time I need to telepathically shred his mind. Once I have what I need you can dispose of Jahnus any way you see fit.”

         Kupa sighed with smug anticipation. “It will be my pleasure.” He then slipped the dagger inside a sheath on the side of his leg armor.

         The crowds rose to their feet when Trekell and the Princess stood up and came to the edge of the aging Royal Balcony that overlooked the arena field. Obsidyanna was clearly distressed by the whole event but Trekell managed to keep a stoic appearance. The crowds returned to their seats when Trekell made the customary gesture of acknowledgement. He then addressed the waiting people.

         “Citizens of Vanadis,” Trekell began. “I bid you welcome to this historic event, which is appropriately being held in our equally historic Arena. It was in this place many millennia ago that the first Tauri was held. And it was that first Tauri that determined the course of our history. Since the beginning of our Age of Enlightenment this ancient place has been awaiting a new event that will determine the course of our future history. That day has now arrived.”

         To complete the ceremonial acknowledgment of the Tauri Trekell leaned against the stone retaining wall of the balcony and called out; “I call forth the new Tauri Contenders.”

         “That’s your cue,” Grekar stated as he gestured for Jahnus to begin his ceremonious walk onto the arena field.

         Before leaving the chamber Jahnus turned back to Grekar. “Aren’t you going to wish me luck?”

         Grekar smirked. “I think Kupa’s the one who will need the luck.”

         “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Jahnus chuckled as he turned to continue out onto the field.

         Just as Kupa started toward the entrance to the field his mother called to him in voice that he had not heard since he was a child.

         “May the Maker be with you, my son.”

         Kupa turned back to Tarnara, appearing stunned by her sudden affection and concern for his well being. He embraced her only as a loving son could.

         “I will be victorious, Mother,” Kupa stated with unwavering confidence. “I promise you.”

         He then turned and gallantly headed out onto the arena field.

         “This had better work,” Tarnara warned Lylithia in a low voice as she watched Kupa walk steadily toward his fate.

         As the two warriors approached the center of the arena they stopped within a few feet of each other. Jahnus was nearly six feet in height but Kupa still towered over him, tall enough to look down upon Jahnus with an expression of utter contempt. Jahnus looked up at Kupa and grinned with defiant confidence.

         “Prince Kupa of Xian,” Trekell called out. “Because you are the challenger you may choose the first method of combat.”

         Kupa grinned eagerly. “I choose the Mace!”

         The crowd gasped with surprise. Even Jahnus and Trekell were stunned because this was not what they expected when they trained the night before.

         “Are you certain, Prince Kupa,” Trekell asked with anxiousness in his voice. “The Swords are usually first choice in the traditional Tauri.”

         Kupa appeared irritated by Trekell’s question. “I have made my choice! I want the Mace!”

         “As you wish,” Trekell acknowledged with a sigh of acknowledgement.

         A guard then emerged from a small door carrying a pair of the ancient club-like weapons. When the guard came between Jahnus and Kupa he extended his arms sideways so that each warrior could take their respective weapon without getting too close to each other. Kupa grabbed his Mace eagerly.

         Jahnus looked curiously at the ball-shaped end of the club with its needle sharp spikes.

         “I suppose I could swing this like a sword,” Jahnus muttered to himself.

         When the guard returned to his waiting area Trekell then called out, “Let the Tauri begin!”

         Kupa suddenly lunged at Jahnus making a mad overhead swing with his mace. His expression was like that of a beast pouncing on its prey. Caught off guard Jahnus rolled out of the way as Kupa’s mace whooshed past him. The heavy mace ball made a deep thump as it impacted the soil that composed the arena field. Kupa quickly lifted his mace up and took another swing at Jahnus. This time Jahnus was ready. He easily blocked Kupa’s swing with his own Mace but was amazed at the strength of Kupa’s blow. The force of the impact actually knocked Jahnus a little off balance causing him to leap aside to regain his stance. The crowds cheered each time Jahnus was able to fight off Kupa’s attacks.

         Trekell and Obsidyanna noticed the ferocity and apparent relentlessness of Kupa’s attacks.

         “Something’s wrong,” Obsidyanna voiced nervously. “Kupa seems stronger than before.”

         “I know,” Trekell acknowledged with his own expression of concern. “But there’s nothing we can do about it. The outcome is up to Jahnus now.”

         Obsidyanna winced when Kupa struck Jahnus with a massive blow to the chest creating a loud clang that reverberated in the arena.

         Jakor stood up and cheered at the sight of Jahnus flying backwards through the air. When Jahnus slammed into the stone wall on the far side of the arena Jakor turned and looked up at Obsidyanna with a gloating grin. Obsidyanna returned Jakor’s gloat with a sneer.

         “What’s wrong with you,” Grekar yelled from just inside the chamber doorway. “Have you run out of juice or something? You should have flattened that overgrown moron by now.”

         “It doesn’t seem to be working out that way,” Jahnus remarked in a stressed voice as he got back to his feet.

         “No kidding,” Grekar chided. He then saw Kupa charging toward Jahnus. “I think you better move out of the way…now.”

         Jahnus looked up just in time to see Kupa, with mace reared back, rushing toward him. He jumped up and over Kupa’s head just as the Mace smashed into the wall, pulverizing the stone. But while still hanging in mid-air Jahnus gave Kupa a stomp to the back of his head, knocking him against the wall.

         When Jahnus landed he quickly spun around and gave Kupa a swift kick in the chest just as Kupa was turning to face him. The blow sent Kupa reeling backwards but did not knock him down. Jahnus was astonished at how quickly Kupa recovered from a kick that should have shattered his ribs.

         “Looks like someone took their vitamins this morning,” Jahnus quipped as Kupa lumbered toward him.

         “I will not let you take the Princess from me,” Kupa yelled as he took another swing at Jahnus with the massive mace. “She and the kingdom of Vanadis will be mine!”

         Jahnus leaped back just avoiding the archaic weapon as it whooshed past him.

         “Is this why you challenged me to a Tauri? You think I’m taking Obsidyanna from you? Well I’ve got news for you, pal, I didn’t take her,” Jahnus retorted as they circled each other. “She came to me voluntarily. She asked me to marry her so that she’d be free from the old ways and not be treated as a prize.”

         “It doesn’t matter what she wants,” Kupa growled. “I will not let an outsider take away what is mine!” Kupa then took another swing at Jahnus.

         “Even if Obsidyanna ends up hating you,” Jahnus asked as he dodged the mace once again.

         “How she loves or hates me does not matter,” Kupa snapped angrily while breathing hard. “All that matters is that she is betrothed to me. It is her duty to honor the agreement her father made to my mother.”

         “I get it now. You don’t care about Obsidyanna. You just care about power and pleasing your mother. And the Princess is merely an instrument for your mother to take over Vanadis.”

         Kupa seemed to hesitate, as if he was contemplating what Jahnus had just said.

         “We don’t have to fight, Kupa,” Jahnus said in a more calm voice, even though the screaming crowds nearly drowned out what he was saying. “You don’t have to be your mother’s puppet anymore. You can be your own man.”

         The crowds suddenly murmured with confusion as Kupa lowered his mace. Jahnus responded by dropping his mace and began to approach Kupa slowly.

         “What on Gaia does he think he’s doing,” Tarnara yelled in a stunned voice. “Jahnus has dropped his weapon! Why doesn’t Kupa just kill him?”

         “Kupa is doing exactly what I want him to do,” Lylithia stated with a smug grin as she focused her telepathic influence on Kupa.

         As Jahnus came within just a few feet of Kupa Jahnus raised his hands in a gesture of friendship.

         “You can’t defeat me,” Jahnus said in a confident voice. “There is no need for you to throw away your life. We don’t have to be enemies.”

         “That’s what you think,” Kupa growled as he suddenly caught Jahnus off guard with a lightning fast punch to the face. With Jahnus momentarily stunned Kupa then gleefully smashed Jahnus’s head with the mace knocking him to the ground so hard that the impact left an indentation in the shape of Jahnus’s body.

         As Jahnus struggled to get back to his feet Kupa quickly rushed over and began pounding the mace into Jahnus’s back like a spiked hammer, knocking him face down on the ground. After the third blow the spikes began penetrating Jahnus’s armor. Red glowing blood began to flow from wounds on Jahnus’s back.

         “Father…you have to stop this madness,” Obsidyanna pleaded to the point of crying desperation.

         “I can’t,” Trekell replied with a shocked and dismayed face. “The Tauri can’t end until one of them is dead.”

         “That’s my boy,” Tarnara exclaimed joyously. “Pound that usurping alien to a pulp!”

         “Great Maker,” Grekar gasped with horror as Kupa continued to pummel Jahnus with the now bloodied mace. “Maybe I should have wished him luck.”

         When Jahnus stopped trying to get up Kupa dropped the mace and then grasped Jahnus by one of his arms. Kupa then lifted him up so that he could look into Jahnus’s barely open eyes.

         “Your journey in this time period is over…Jonathan Kearny,” Kupa said in Lylithia’s vengeful voice. He then pulled out the crystal dagger and plunged it into Jahnus’s left temple. The blade glowed white as it began absorbing Jahnus’s power.

         The Fundamentalists in the stands jumped up and cheered as Jahnus dropped to his knees in front of a gloating Kupa.

         NOOOO,” Obsidyanna screamed in horror as Jahnus toppled face down to the ground.

         Kupa looked down upon his vanquished enemy and in an act of pure spite stepped one foot on Jahnus’s bloody back. He then raised his arms in a display of triumph. Then, as if to add further insult, Kupa yelled almost maniacally at the crowds of horrified Vanadians. Only the Fundamentalists cheered for Kupa’s apparent victory.