Chapter 2: The Building of Syrain’s
Army
Unc
Leaves grow on Unc Trees
Unc
Trees capture a deadly breeze
A
deadly breeze to put you at ease
Unc
Leaves make the knees freeze
Unc
Leaves make a sleepy disease
Unc
Leaves to put you at ease
How can a
child’s nursery rhyme have such a dark meaning? Do the children remain innocent
while singing about an illegal drug? The song is very accurate. Unc Leaves do
grow on Unc Trees. The deadly breeze? Unc Leaves emit a strong odor of incense.
When a wind catches the tree, the aroma reeks so strong that it slowly kills
all other surrounding plant life. If a human is near an Unc Tree, it slowly
numbs the nerves, causing the human’s knees to freeze. If an Unc Leaf is
inhaled directly, you slowly lose all consciousness, a sleepy disease to put
you at ease.
Blaik could hear a thousand young children singing the
nursery rhyme over and over in his head. The words slowly started to change, as
the voices meshed into one wretched voice.
“I rule, and everyone else in the universe is horrible
association!” it sang.
As
Blaik’s mind crawled out of a haze, the voice became ever more familiar. Even
though Blaik was unable to open his eyes, he knew exactly who was singing; a
wicked queen from a far off planet,
“Victoriama,
why are you in my kingdom?” Blaik mumbled.
“Oh,
so you’ve awaken,” Victoriama said. “Did you enjoy your little nap?”
“I-I
was captured by someone, but I have no idea who it was, and I can’t open my
eyes,” Blaik said.
“When
Syrain said ‘Unc Leaves will knock him out,’ she was not joking.” Victoriama
said as she chuckled with an evil smile.
“What
are you talking about?” Blaik asked.
“Mums
the word,” Victoriama answered. “Mikeez told me that I dare not tell you what
is going on. I just need to make sure
you don’t go anywhere.”
“Mikeez?”
Blaik asked. “I thought her and her family died eight years ago.”
“Well
you’re a dumb boy so you don’t know that Syrain has created an army and Mikeez
is the leader. Oh, and Madilk and Azrat are still alive. The only one that
really died was Mitch,” Victoriama quickly spilled.
“Hello
Blaik,” a girl said from behind Victoriama. She was covered in black clothes.
Her long black hair framed her freckled face. She slowly walked closer to
Victoriama until their faces nearly touched. “I told Syrain you were a bad
secret keeper. If it were up to me, I would leave you chained on your planet to
rot.”
“I
hate you more than words can explain,” Victoriama said. “If you resided on my
planet, I would have you arrested for not wearing pink. The color black offends
me. You are bad association!”
As
they were arguing, Blaik slowly forced his eyes open. His vision was blurred,
but he was able to make out shadows. “Mikeez?” Blaik asked.
“Hello
Blaik. Long time no see,” Mikeez said. “Have you been well these past eight
years?”
“What
happened to you? I thought you died with your family. What happened to your
blonde locks? You have changed much since we were young,” Blaik said.
“I
figure black suits me better,” Mikeez said. “But now is not the time for
catching up. Now I must explain to you what you are here for. I remember liking
you, so I’ll be blunt. Syrain formed an army three years ago, an army that
assassinates kings or queens from different planets to take over their
kingdoms.”
“What?!”
Blaik yelled.
“Do
not raise your voice with me!” Mikeez ordered. “Listen, you are an old friend,
and I don’t want to kill you-”
“Then
don’t!” Blaik interrupted.
“If
it were that simple, I wouldn’t kill you,” Mikeez reasoned, “but it isn’t that
simple. I didn’t want to help kill… never mind. Since you are an old friend, I
will let you go, but only this once.”
“Well
you obviously have the intention of killing me,” Blaik said, “so why not now?”
“Yeah!
Why not!?” Victoriama asked.
“Because
Syrain… I will leave the killing up to Syrain,” Mikeez explained. “Victoriama,
untie Blaik.”
“Yes
ma’am,” Victoriama said, and walked her thin body over to the chair Blaik was
tied to. Her long skinny fingers untied the ropes as Mikeez continued to talk.
“Why
are you doing this Mikeez?” Blaik asked. “Do you really want to go through with
all of this?”
Mikeez
ignored the question. “Expect war Blaik.” She scratched her face and revealed a
scar on her left cheek. She pulled a red cloth out of her pocket. “Wear this
cloth to cover your eyes. Someone will escort you out, Your Majesty.”
Mikeez
tied the cloth around Blaik’s head.
Darkness.
Everything has such an eerie feel in the dark. Complete darkness is a feeling
of vulnerability. Vulnerable in the home of an enemy.
Victoriama
lead Blaik to a door, where a small hand took Blaik’s hand.
“Hello
Blaik,” a small voice with a British accent said.
As
soon as he heard the voice, Blaik knew it was Madilk, a leprechaun, and also
sister to Mikeez. “Hello Madilk,” Blaik replied.
They
walked a few steps, and Blaik heard a voice from his left yell, “Madilk! What
are you doing?”
“Mikeez
ordered me to lead Blaik out,” Madilk replied.
“Or
are you a trader?” the voice asked.
“Go
ask Mikeez yourself,” Madilk said. “She’s in the interrogation room.”
“Fine,”
the voice said, “I’ll go right over there n- oomph!”
“How
do you trip when nothing is there to trip you?” Madilk teased.
“Gaineb?”
Blaik asked. “You haven’t changed a bit. Still always tripping all the time.”
“Shut
up!” Gaineb yelled. He lifted himself up and punched Blaik in the stomach.
“What’s wrong? You can’t fight back?”
Blaik
coughed. “I refuse to retaliate in an unnecessary situation.”
“That’s
why your kingship will fail. But as for me, I will be king of the greatest
kingdom in the universe!” Gaineb exclaimed.
“What
makes you so sure Syrain will appoint you as the ruler of Kryo?” Madilk asked.
“Because
she loves me,” Gaineb said with a hint of pride in his tone. He punched Blaik
in the stomach once more. “See you around you worthless piece of life.” Gaineb
angrily walked off into a room and threw a chair to a wall.
“That’s
where Gaineb is wrong,” a voice said in front of Blaik and Madilk.
“What
do you want Logmar?” Madilk asked in an irritated voice.
“I
wanted to make sure Blaik knows who is taking over his kingdom,” Logmar said.
“So that was
you,” Blaik said. “You were the one who drugged me.”
“That’s right,” Logmar said. “And I did it because you
sister, Syrain, is in love with me and will make me King!”
“Well I think both you and Gaineb are wrong,” Madilk said.
“Oh what do you know you little leprechaun?” Logmar asked.
“If you ask me, it seems logical that she will make Nik the
King. You know Blaik, your best friend,” Madilk explained.
“You are out of your mind,” Blaik said. “None of my friends
would ever join your army.”
“Do
you really think Nik would choose you over his own brother?” Madilk asked with
a chuckle.
“What
are you talking about?” Blaik asked. “Dann died last year from a stunt
accident.”
“Did
he?” Madilk asked rhetorically. “You might want to hear all the facts before
you assume things.”
“Dann
is dead. It happened right before my eyes.” Blaik said.
“But did you see his body afterward?” Logmar asked. “Syrain
was the only one to see Dann’s body after the accident. Haven’t you every heard
the Myth of the Great Stunt Man? The
greatest stunt is to swallow a poisoned leaf. and remain unconscious until
something truly evil kisses them.”
“The only way to wake up from a Poisoned Leaf is to be
kissed by something truly evil,” Madilk included.
“Are you saying Syrain is truly evil?” Blaik hesitated to
ask, afraid for an answer.
“I’m
saying Syrain convinced Dann into doing the stunt,” Logmar smiled.
“Don’t you think that if Nik finds out his close brother is
still alive, he would join us instantly?” Madilk asked. “Now come on! I must
get you out of here before Mikeez has my head.”
“Wait,”
Blaik said. “How are you communicating with Syrain? It is completely
impossible.”
“You would have to ask Mikeez,” Madilk said. “I’ve never
spoken to her. Now let’s get a move on!”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After an hour of walking, Madilk and Blaik stopped to rest.
“My feet are throbbing,” Madilk said. “How about you?”
“I’ve walked for longer periods of time before,” Blaik
replied.
“You haven’t said a word this whole time that we have
walked,” Madilk said.
“I’m
blind folded, being lead by an evil leprechaun, and I just found out
overwhelming news,” Blaik said.
“Listen,” Madilk said, “I know I have a reputation as an
evil leprechaun, but I’m not all evil. I actually feel bad for you.”
Blaik stayed silent.
“Well, let’s keep moving then,” Madilk said.
Madilk and Blaik continued to walk until Blaik could
see sunlight sneaking
through his blind fold. Madilk walked him into the same forest where Blaik was
captured the night before. They stopped, and Madilk untied the blind fold. It
had been a long time since Blaik could see, so he squinted, letting the
sunlight creep up on him little by little. He was surrounded in a blur of
green.
When his eyes were fully opened, Madilk was gone. A note
was left on a leaf by Blaik’s foot. It read: Prepare for war.
Blaik gazed up at the sun and could tell it was late
afternoon. His heart was heavy from the overwhelming day. He knew he had to
tell Aimee everything right away. She always gave him great advice. But seeing
as mermaids are nocturnal, he decided to visit his other best friend, Nik
Sanoj.
