Sekali, "The Sister City"

 

                                Chapter 97

 

     As Sekali lay upon the marbled floor within the structure, Mahkaia arose from him and turned, hovering above him just within arm’s reach. She smiled at him and then descended, close to him, and kissed him gently as he looked on in wonder and shock. Floating high into the air above him, she turned. Standing tall and proud, she saluted him in the Sardakk custom, her eyes suddenly ablaze, shining like two radiant stars. Sekali forced himself to stand and saluted her in return, thinking that the arrows that stuck him had opened the gate into the next world, and that she had come for him. He smiled briefly at her and then fell to his knees as many elves raced past him in a flood, weapons drawn and arrows hailing down upon the Veleighen pressing foreward, refusing to retreat.
     Again, he thought he was dreaming as he stared at Mahkaia, holding out his hand to her.
     “Take me with you, Mahkaia!” He hoarsely yelled. “Don’t leave me, please don’t leave me!”
With a calm voice, that was not dimmed by the rushing sound of the elfin host, Mahkaia grinned, as she always did. “Sekali, it is not your time. You have many things to do. You will seek audience with King Nishane Asmond, our High Sovereign, and our true master. From there, many trials will be upon our people. Help our people through these trials, Sekali.”
     She saluted him once more and came to him, placing a gentle hand upon the left side of his head, upon the six braids he had never taken out. Then she began to fade.
     “Ita sevor min (I love you),” she whispered.
     “Ita sevor min!” He desperately cried, and wept bitterly as she faded away.
She was gone.
     Sekali fell back upon the ancient marble floor, only distantly hearing the sound of a dwarf chanting a battle song, and hearing the strokes of his axe penetrating steel, flesh and bone. His hearing dimmed until, finally, he could no longer hear anything, anything but the voice of a woman very near to his ear.
     “Hold on, Sekali, don’t you die on me. Be strong . . . be strong . . .” Then he faded into darkness, but not before thinking that he had just heard Mabuhi’s voice.
     “Mabuhi?” That was the final word that fell from his lips as he faded into blackness amidst nightmares where the Dreganox Wolf hunted him relentlessly . . . and there was no escape. It never could catch him . . . but he could never get away.

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