Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Hayu Tales: Point of Origin
    Hayu Tales: Point of Origin
    Hayu Tales: Point of Origin
    Ebook446 pages11 hours

    Hayu Tales: Point of Origin

    By Beth Hoyer

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Tales of the Hayu aliens gathered around the campfire to children listening.
    "As the Human new year of 2003 was celebrated, the Planet Earth fell in chaos, as ships of all sizes and kinds, invaders came through gates, purple openings in space, opened by the moving of Planet Humania. The ships came firing their weapons of terror, and destruction, mostly firing large rocky asteroids, lasers and all kinds of created weapons exploded in the Planet Earth. The Humans of the Earth began to die, crying in pain with their screams. Antarctica, the icy snow kingdom of eternal winter was hit sinking in the ocean of the Earth as the waters began to rise covering the land. Then the Earth became covered in a cloud of darkness that surrounded the planet. On the Earth, the Humans began to scream out their cries to their Gods, dying on a dying Planet Earth as a land, a Nation called United States of America disappeared in a cloud of white. The invaders attacked the planet, the Humans’ greatest creation the space shuttle, piloted by Humans; sailed into the sky despite the chaos around them reached the heavens of space and floated witnessing history. The invaders left with their ships and disappeared through the gates leaving a giant asteroid, a planet killer traveling towards the Earth. The Humans in the space shuttle sat in space with horror watching their planet die hoping for hope."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBeth Hoyer
    Release dateJul 13, 2013
    ISBN9781301565375
    Hayu Tales: Point of Origin
    Author

    Beth Hoyer

    I'm currently a lover of cats. I love to type stories on my computer for hours. I like the science fiction fantasy genre with romance thrown in it when it comes to my stories. I like to take hikes through forests snapping photos to use as my covers for my stories. I'm an aspiring author of science fiction fantasy.AccomplishmentWe that seek goals and dreams,Seek many ways for the dreams,To be accomplished.We that seek the path to the goal,Know there will be many paths.Choosing the right one,Will take time.We that dream the impossible,To be accomplished,Will face many,Obstacles, bridges,And challenges,To be overcome in time.It will take time for,There’s no challenge too great,Nor too small that waits,To be conquered.

    Read more from Beth Hoyer

    Related to Hayu Tales

    Titles in the series (7)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Science Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Homage to Mkhulu

      May 27, 2022

      Homage to Mkhulu
      4 min read

    • Article

      Homage to Mkhulu

      Feb 22, 2019

      Homage to Mkhulu
      4 min read

    • Article

      To Save Arrhinsal

      Nov 1, 2021

      Tolin lives on Arrhinsal, an island that floats in the sky two miles above the land below. One day, while hunting in the maze of tunnels that run through the island’s thick hedges, he encounters a girl who, her sword raised, has turned to face a huge

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Dragon Of The North

      Sep 7, 2022

      The Dragon Of The North
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Sun’s Tale

      Jun 8, 2022

      The Sun’s Tale
      3 min read

    • Article

      Weaving Welsh With Waiata

      Apr 22, 2024

      Weaving Welsh With Waiata
      5 min read

    • Article

      Mummy’s The Word

      Aug 6, 2019

      Mummy’s The Word
      3 min read

    • Article

      Sleeping with Lions

      Aug 4, 2019

      Sleeping with Lions
      4 min read

    • Article

      Someone Who Listens

      Jul 18, 2023

      Someone Who Listens
      4 min read

    • Article

      NIGHT Owls

      Mar 8, 2023

      NIGHT Owls
      3 min read

    • Article

      To Save Arrhinsal

      Sep 1, 2021

      TOLIN CRAWLED FORWARD, staying alert. All around, the dense, wiry thickets of the hedge were strangely silent. That usually meant danger, when the green tangle of thorns should be cheery with the songs of finches, the dusky clucking of hedge hens. On

      8 min read

    • Article

      NIGHT Owls

      Mar 8, 2023

      NIGHT Owls
      3 min read

    • Article

      3 Things For The Future

      Nov 6, 2017

      3 Things For The Future
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Priestess’s Namesake

      Jan 1, 2024

      MY NAME IS Enheduanna. I was named after the courageous priestess who fought invaders to save the sacred temple of Inanna, our city’s powerful goddess of love and war. Enheduanna was also a magnificent poet who wrote about her epic adventures. My mam

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Boy With Many Names

      Feb 2, 2022

      The Boy With Many Names
      4 min read

    • Article

      Braving the STORM

      Aug 17, 2021

      Braving the STORM
      6 min read

    • Article

      Orpheus and Eurydice

      Dec 25, 2023

      Orpheus and Eurydice
      2 min read

    • Article

      Orpheus And Eurydice

      Feb 5, 2020

      Orpheus And Eurydice
      2 min read

    • Article

      Ursula K. Le Guin

      Jun 15, 2018

      He was thinking of Lookfar, abandoned long ago, beached on the sands of Selidor. Little of her would be left by now, a plank or two down in the sand maybe, a bit of driftwood on the western sea. As he drifted near sleep he began to remember sailing t

      15 min read

    • Article

      Nature Is Metal

      Feb 4, 2021

      Nature Is Metal
      5 min read

    • Article

      CARVING out the WORDS

      Sep 19, 2022

      CARVING out the WORDS
      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Hayu Tales

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Hayu Tales - Beth Hoyer

      Hayu Tales: Point of Origin

      Copyrighted Beth Hoyer 2013

      Published at Smashwords

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Part One: Humania

      The hot gold sun shined high in the sky blaring on a desert brown field. A servant being a species called Humania whose name was Telviv stood resting. His tan brown skin glistened from water dripping from his black haired head. His eyes showed golden Human like eyes. He opened his mouth and blew out breath through fanged teeth as he panted from exhaustion. He scratched his pointed ears for he had been planting seeds all day on the Pharaoh's crop fields. The Pharaoh he remembered a youngling male when crowned took the name of Osiris after one of the kingdom's Gods. Telviv remembered that Osiris’ father who called himself Amen Ra had died some suns ago. The funeral was a procession in the city of Zimala where Telviv lived with his wife Ayah. Telviv remembered that day when Pharaoh Amen Ra died.

      He was on his way home to the city Zimala with the sun barely down the horizon with the other slaves when a messenger came and cried The Pharaoh has disappeared!

      Telviv remembered that was their way of saying death claiming the Pharaoh.

      He also recalled crossing both arms and kneeling in the ground with the other slaves as they chanted an ancient chant of the dead Ay Kabaiya.

      They remained till the sun disappeared from the horizon and arrived the next day. Then the funeral procession was carrying the pharaoh’s body covered in his royal robes of green and his head showed braided hair of age, was bare, in a circle around the city. Telviv stood and bowed with the others as the body went past. Following the body was Pharaoh’s oldest heir of two sons, of unknown name a youngling male who was barely a teen old. His face was in a frown as the royal servants carried a tent object over the youngling’s head followed by royal servants who were acting like mourners, bowing and kneeling with moans of wails. Then there was a black being with long face, four legs, a tail that swished and a sculpted back referred as a gonoid was led by another royal servant. On the gonoid was a platform with a box to contain the pharaoh’s heart. The gonoid neigh a cry as it was led through the city with Amen Ra’s body. Telviv remembered following the procession out of the city to one of the gates where they led to a towering triangle stone building called a Pyramid. It was where Telviv knew that was where the Pharaoh’s body would be placed to rest. He and the city people stood watching as a priest came with a head mask on his face. The mask had long ears and a jutting face of some gonoid that represented Anubis with a crown, their God of the dead. The priest spoke some words in an ancient language going around Amen Ra’s body in a circle while swinging some incense with smoke coming from it. Then the priest handed the youngling a ladle full of water and the heir sprayed it on the body of his father. Then another set of priests came and took dead Pharaoh Amen Ra’s body and carried it by stretcher into the Pyramid. Telviv and the others kneeled as they waited for the priests to come out. The priest with the Anubis mask took the box off the gonoid, walking as then bell like sounds rang. The priest slowly holding the box raised it above his head and walked into the entrance. Telviv kneeled waiting as the priests who carried the body into the Pyramid came out and then the people of Zimala got up from their positions. The priest with the Anubis mask came out and then all bowed to the youngling as if paying homage to him. Then the Anubis priest took the crown off his head and crowned the youngling Pharaoh.

      Then the youngling spoke his first words as Pharaoh his voice ranging for Telviv and the others to hear, I am called Osiris, God, ruler of Zimala, and ruler of us all.

      Then they stood up and bowed as royal servants came with a chair attached to sticks and lowered it to the ground. The new Pharaoh Osiris sat on the chair and then the servants raised it up. They proceeded to carry the new Pharaoh into the city with the Telviv and the other people following. The procession went up a hill to the palace at the top. There was a set of stairs leading to the first level of the palace. In front of the steps were a chair richly adorned and then the servants lowered Osiris down then he walked up the stairs to the chair where he sat down.

      The Zimalans kneeled and together spoke chanting Ay Kabaiya.

      Telviv at the memory exhaled a breath. The sun was brutally hot all day. He felt like he was frying in an oven. Telviv used a long stick to make holes in the ground, and then he planted the seeds from a cloth bag and covered the holes with dirt shuffled from his foot. He sighed as he rubbed his arm on his forehead. His short black hair of his servant rank stuck to his head. It was beginning to be hot. The nearest shade was the Forbidden forest. Telviv shuddered about the stories of dark people called Shadonia living in the forest. He had no shoes on his bare feet and was wearing short white pants. Soon he thought when the sun was high in the sky at its zenith, would be break time. As he continued to work, the sun raised high in the sky with the green moon called Edenia stood shining in the sky. Hot and tired he ventured into the shaded cover of the dark forbidden forest. Telviv heard tales of people venturing into the forest. Few have returned to tell the tale of what was in there. Telviv sat down in front of a tree and learned his back against it. He was meaning to stay awake but he felt so tired that he fell asleep.

      When Telviv woke up the sun was at the top of the sky. Telviv looked out and he could tell that the sun was darkening. Then he heard voices speaking faintly. Curious Telviv walked to the voices. Bushes and trees stood in his way. He walked around them. He saw light from green torches ahead as he came around a tree. Telviv saw the torches lit up a clearing in the forest. No one was in sight. A light from above shined a ray on the ground. There was a green smoke. A woman in servant clothes of Zimala, white hair and purple skin stood there. She was like Telviv himself, having pointed ears and all white eyes but different color skin and hair color. She was holding a gray bundle. Without warning black shadow shapes sprang up from the ground attacking her. She ran to the trees and Telviv saw her trip and fall in a bush. Then he saw her running through the clearing without the bundle. The bush was near Telviv stood hidden behind a tree. Telviv explored the bush and found a buddle which he picked up and slowly took his way through the forest to the edges of the fields. He heard growls behind him and looked behind him to see black shapes chasing him.

      Then he heard a scream Aahhhh!

      Chilling him in his bones as he ran onto the field then there was silence. He got onto the field to see the sun appear again. The sun shined her glorious bringing rays of heat. The shadows that followed him disappeared. Telviv breathe a sigh of relief. He sat down in the middle of the field disturbing some buried seedlings while facing the forest. Checking the bundle he discovered it was a bunch of blankets tied around something with ropes. Telviv untied the ropes and pulled back the blankets. He was shocked to see a baby with skin color like himself and pointed ears with similar eyes.

      Wah said the baby.

      Checking the gender he saw it was a newborn female wearing a necklace around her neck.

      He thought, This baby will answer my wife's wishes to have a child. At last our prayers are answered.

      A sound of a bell rang clanging. He tensed listening to the bell sounds. It was in code saying Workers, report back immediately! Storm coming!

      Telviv picked up the bundle and jogged to the road. There he followed it towards the city.

      In the forest eyes watched him. Eyes of the same woman who dropped the bundle saw him go.

      A shadow appeared besides her, a Shadonian coming from the earth, came to her and spoke Nefari did you drop something that Humanian stole?

      Nefari spoke No, I dropped the bundle for I wanted him to have it.

      The Shadonian spoke What was in the bundle?

      Nefari looked at him and spoke How can I know? I was ordered to take it with me and give it to the first Humanian I saw!

      She paused and spoke again I was not allowed to see what was in the bundle.

      The Shadonian bowed and disappeared into the forest.

      Nefari thought There's one thing I'm not telling him. In the bundle is my baby my daughter the future ruler of Edenia.

      Nefari spoke silently Daughter I hope you can come back with the key of Osiris.

      Silently she walked into the dark forest.

      Telviv walked in the dirt road. The wind kept getting stronger and stronger at each step as the sand blew in his face as he clutched the bundle. His eyes were used to the sand as he staggered with the others to the gates of the city Zimala. He reached the gates of the city as the roaring wind blew dirt around him. He was joined by men, women and children all Humanian servants who were working in the fields.

      He heard one mutter Oh may the Gods be with us.

      Telviv echoed the mutterer. He wondered if the winds would blow the seeds out of the fields. The huge stone walls of the city Zimala loomed tall. The gates were stone and were open. Guards in shiny metals on their chests and skirts with golden sandals and helmeted heads ushered the workers in the city.

      One said Move it! A storm is coming! You lazy gonoids get undercover!

      The guards quickly brought them inside. The stone gates rumbled into position closing the city from the storm as the last of the guards darted inside.

      In Zimala people were rushing around running.

      Telviv thought They were in a hurry to get to their homes.

      He darted through the crowds to an alley. There he walked in the stone alley. Stone blocks stood dwarfing him on both sides. He passed by doorways. Some were open and some were closed. He entered a doorway to the apartments. The stone building was made out of stone carved out of a mountain rock. Telviv ran up two flights of stairs to their apartment. His wife wearing pants like him and had a sleeveless top covering her chest stood at the doorway as always waiting for him. Her hair was short like Telviv’s. Telviv smiled at her as she smiled back at him.

      His wife seeing the bundle frowned and yelled Telviv get inside and drop that bundle!

      Telviv ran inside still clutching the bundle as Ayah closed the door behind him. She scolded him for not dropping the bundle.

      Telviv protested But it has a valuable.

      Ayah glared and then a quick motion she snatched it out of Telviv's hands. She turned her back to Telviv facing the door. Then she turned around with a curious look on her face. Telviv helped her undid the ropes and the blankets fell away revealing a baby. Ayah's face shone with joy when she saw the baby.

      Oh Telviv she spoke Our very own Daughter.

      Ayah asked "Telviv where did you find her?

      Telviv answered I found her in the forest but I wish I knew who that Shadonian lady was for she dropped the child.

      Ayah spoke Telviv when people ask about her just say the Sun God Amen Ra gave her to us as a blessing.

      Telviv nodded and spoke The child's name will be Tala, meaning found in Humanian, for she was found.

      The storm and its howling winds of sand lasted for days. Telviv spent the storm worrying about Tala.

      He constantly bugged his wife Ayah with questions What if they find out? What if the Shadonians come after us? What will happen to us?

      Ayah did her best to calm him down with reassurances of It’s alright. Don't worry. They won't find out. The Shadonians should leave us alone. The Pharaoh should protect us. For the Gods' sake stop worrying!

      The sun sometime came out and shined but barely through the storm. When at last the storm was over the city of Zimala, Telviv was in his apartment when he heard a knock on the door. He came and answered it.

      It was the Pharaoh's royal guard The storm is over. You're requested to come and haul the sand out of the city.

      Saying this they grabbed Telviv and hauled him out of the apartment.

      There was a gang cleaning out sand blown from the storm in the city. People came out of their homes with buckets in hand and began to haul the knee-deep sand out of the city. Telviv spent hours with his back aching as he and the others would fill a bucket of sand and give it to the person next to them. The person would hand it to the next person in a line. The end of the line was when the person threw the sand into the Forbidden Forest.

      Soon the city was back to its original shape with no knee-deep sand in the streets. Telviv's back ached. He slowly walked to his home. On the way markets were open selling their wares while crying them out.

      Then a city crier came on a white gonoid that had four legs, sculpted back and had black hair parted to the side yelling Celebrate Pharaoh Osiris’ marriage to Isis!

      Telviv heard him repeating that on gonoid back many times over and over. Telviv saw people immediately began to hang bolts of cloth from their balconies. Soon some started walking up the hillside of the mountain where the nobles' houses were and further beyond was the towns square where meetings took place. Telviv walked to his apartment and saw his wife.

      He spoke The Pharaoh is getting married. We're to assemble to the town square immediately.

      He groaned and spoke No rest for the weary.

      Ayah grabbed Tala and they left the apartment and followed the city's people to the town's square as the city people crowded into the towns square in front of a temple building. The building was like a Pyramid where Telviv and Ayah with Tala stood among the towns’ people. Several people congratulated them on Tala's arrival.

      Congratulations they spoke.

      Telviv told the same story over and over that Amen Ra the Sun God blessed them with a child. Inside Telviv felt sadness of telling that lie. He sighed as he repeated the story of finding Tala in the field from an apparition of Amen Ra. Then horns blew in front of the temple. They waited with the crowd in the town's square in front of the temple. The temple's spires stood tall as horns blew. The doors opened and coming out were the newlyweds couple the Pharaoh Osiris and his Queen Isis. Telviv could see that Isis was a young female around the Pharaoh’s age, dressed in a green dress. The crowd got to their knees and bowed their heads onto the ground bowing.

      Then came the parade of guards which Telviv enjoyed, were walking in formations impressing others. Then the nobles paraded their gonoids and their slaves pass the temple on a dais sat the Pharaoh and his newly wife. Telviv noticed the Pharaoh's twin brother called by the name of Set stood behind them looking preoccupied for Telviv recalled he wasn’t at the funeral of his father.

      Telviv soon forgot about the Pharaoh's twin brother and paid homage to the pharaoh. Crowds of people stood in lines to offered gifts of food, and jewelry. Some offered their children to be blessed by the Pharaoh. Then it was Telviv's turn. He and his wife shyly held up Tala and the Pharaoh spoke a blessing in an ancient language. Both Telviv and Ayah kneeled as the Pharaoh Osiris took the baby and held up to the sun as to offer the Sun God Amen Ra while speaking in ancient language.

      He spoke In my presence as Pharaoh I bless this child Tala in honor of Amen Ra. To the winds of North, South, East and West may they blow their blessings on this child, to the Gods may she grow and prosper in their teaching.

      Then he handed the baby Tala back to Telviv and Ayah. He made a sign over the three of them with his hand going in two directions. Then Telviv kissed the Pharaoh's feet and then got up with Ayah holding Tala. They backed into the crowd and stood with their friends.

      When the ceremonies were complete it was nightfall. The Pharaoh and his wife left the crowd going to the palace on the hill up above the crowd by chair litters. Then the people left for their homes. Telviv and his wife said good bye to their friends.

      Ayah asked her husband What's wrong?

      She noticed he was quiet.

      He answered Today I could feel there were eyes on us.

      He paused and spoke Eyes on our child Tala. I noticed the new queen had her eyes on Tala like she knew the truth.

      He looked at the sleeping Tala in a cocoon of the blankets in Ayah's arms.

      Ayah spoke So? Maybe they noticed our new child believe that the Sun God gave her to us.

      Telviv was about to speak when black shadows formed around them.

      Telviv yelled Shadonians! Sound the alar-

      As a hand clapped over his mouth and then two pairs of hands grabbed his arms and knocked him on the ground. Ayah ran screaming her cries. She could hear growls behind her.

      She ran crying out Leave me and my child alone!

      As they chased her, Ayah ran pounding on the doors that were locked. The Shadonians were gaining on her as she ran. Darting into an old temple the door suddenly slammed shut trapping her. She panted straining her ears for sounds. Noises of growling were heard.

      She shivered then was spooked when a voice spoke Ayah your husband has disappeared, but you'll join him unless you give what we want.

      Ayah asked And what is that?

      Red torches glowed showing the temple room. There were Shadonians around her with their glistening purple skin. Their all white eyes glowed as their fanged teeth gnashed at her. Ayah shivered clutching Tala closer to her. The baby cried in distress.

      One of them spoke We want Tala child of Mesen!

      Then rumbling noises and the Temple shook from the rumbling.

      A loud voice spoke Not if I stand here in your way.

      The temple's statue a bird gonoid with a long neck came alive and spoke Who called this?

      Then the door crashed open and windows were smashed the glass spraying on the floor. Ayah fell to the ground and clutching Tala as she cried. The Shadonians quickly darted out but they were met with arrows and spears weapons that killed them.

      The statue spoke Osiris! The child was killed awhile ago. You may have won.

      Laughter as the statue crumpled to the ground in pieces. Then the building started to fall crumbling to the ground. Someone picked up Tala and another grabbed an unconscious Telviv and Ayah as the temple fell. The building crumpled to the ground. The young Pharaoh stood watching a safe distance away. His wife Isis holding Tala joined him.

      The Pharaoh spoke Lucky you sensed this disturbance Isis.

      Isis replied while holding the child Of course Mesen doesn't know me very well. Having him cause trouble in the city is not very good at all.

      A Humanian servant came up to Osiris.

      He bowed and spoke We have a report that that the servant named Telviv found the child, Tala in the dark forest of Shadonia by witnesses. They were confused when Telviv talked about Amen Ra giving him the child in the field when he was seen coming out of the forest with a bundle possibly carrying the child. The cause of how she got there was unknown.

      The servant bowed and Osiris dismissed him with a wave of a hand. The servant walked away.

      Isis spoke Priest Governor Ian Sh'ar will be pleased to get Tala for he has wanting a daughter. His wife is too sick to have another after having three sons.

      Osiris made a gestured of his hand. Governor Sh'ar came forward. His eyes lingered on Tala held by Isis. He lingered with a hopeful expression on his face.

      Osiris spoke I present you an orphaned child.

      Isis handed Tala to the Governor.

      Governor Sh'ar protested But I have three sons.

      Isis glared and asked Assuming you don't want the daughter you wanted?

      Governor Sh'ar spoke Wait! You mean the child is a girl?

      Shocked he clutched Tala.

      Isis answered Except on one condition, she shall be named Tala.

      Joyously the governor agreed. He bowed kissing the Pharaoh's hand then went to his cart where his slaves stood waiting. Getting in they carried him to his home.

      Isis spoke Gods! Another day of defeating Mesen's horde what will we do with the two, Telviv and his wife?

      Osiris spoke I think I’ll determine that later.

      The couple smiled and held hands as the green moon of Edenia shined above them.

      Osiris spoke Isis do you ever wonder why the moon is a lovely jade color?

      Isis spoke Oh Osiris, why should I know? Some things don't have answers as the young couple surveyed the fallen temple.

      Telviv was shaken awake by Ayah. He saw a concerned look on Ayah’s face.

      She spoke Telviv!

      Telviv answered Ayah, We shouldn’t have lied about Tala.

      He gestured to the walls of the stone jutting walls of the prison cage he and Ayah were in. The walls were white stone all around with a metal wall of squares on a window and to the door. There was a faint light shining from the fire lamp in front of their prison.

      Ayah spoke I fear I may have caused our death for I heard the guards mentioning something like that.

      Telviv answered I pray to the Gods that this won’t happen.

      Then they heard clanking sounds of metal opening and then the clanking resumed. The duo looked in time to see Set, brother of Osiris reach the door of their cage. They stood up and watched Set glare at them.

      Set spoke You think you could get away with a lie? A sacred temple has been destroyed as a result.

      Telviv frowned and bowed his head.

      Set spoke again The pharaoh has decreed punishment. You will be exiled, where you go is not our concern.

      The guards opened the gates to the cell and grabbed a silent Telviv. Ayah sniffed as Set made a sound of disgust.

      Outside Telviv blinked his eyes to see a crowd of people standing with an aisle in front leading to one of the side gates of the city. He stared at shock that the gate they were to exit was leading to the hot, sandy desert. He could see the Pharaoh and his wife sitting in their thrones with blank expressions on their faces watching them. Telviv walked with Ayah clinging to his arm. The crowd vibrated of anger.

      Someone yelled There’s no place for liars!

      Ayah looked questioning at Telviv.

      He whispered Someone must have told about this.

      Then the crowd chanted Liars exiled!

      The two walked through the aisle of people, Humanians like he and Ayah, a mass of golden tan skin with black hair, pointed ears and golden eyes stared at them. Reaching the gates Telviv hesitated and then he followed Ayah out of the city with the gates closing with a bang.

      The years went by and Tala grew reaching the age of her first decade. She lived with Governor Sh'ar and his family. As a child she learned many things but something made her wonder. She couldn’t quite grasp it but it was there at the back of her mind.

      One the day the sun was high in the sky in the afternoon. After finishing chores of getting water and feeding the Governor's Gonoids, Tala and her three brothers Ion, Jalel, and Lo went into an alley behind a noble's house where the noble's children came to play. When they got there the children were playing a game of kick the ball bag. They ran around kicking it. Some were making sand castles. Some boys played a game of sticks hitting a rock. Tala joined the kids making sandcastles. Her three brothers joined the boys playing sticks hitting a rock. It was a beautiful day. The clouds were rolling lazily across the sky as the sun shined. Soon it was near lunchtime. Children began leaving for home but Tala and her brothers stayed. Digging in the sand Tala shaped a castle when Tala gave a scream. Her brothers playing were halted.

      Jalel spoke Tala do you mind? We're playing here.

      Tala spoke hysterically I can't its quicksand.

      Ion and his brothers dropped their sticks and ran over to Tala.

      She spoke Look.

      As she put her arm through the hard stone ground she easily pulled her arm out. Ion and his brothers exchanged a look that Tala didn't understand. They looked at each other then

      Ion exclaimed Its not quicksand but stone.

      Lo spoke Stone.

      As he kneeled down and felt the ground.

      Ion asked What joke are you playing?

      Tala protested But it’s not a joke.

      Lo spoke Gods it’s a trick of some kind.

      Then he started walking away. Jalel followed him with Ion. Tala felt the stoned ground. It was hard as stone. She grabbed a handful of sand and threw it in the air. She cried as she watched the sand settle on the ground. Then she got up, her brothers were no where to be seen. She desperately ran out of the alley calling

      Ion! Jalel! Lo! Where are you?

      As she ran out onto the street, which was crowded of people, some were calling out their wares as others bargained prices while unsure which direction to go Tala idly stood. Her three brothers were no where to be seen.

      Fate had chosen Isis to choose this time of the day to dress up in swaddling clothes and go among the masses observing people. She decided to disguise herself as a servant doing a chore. She put on a sack cloth with holes for the head and arms she wore a hooded cloak over herself. It fell to her knees and added some poor made sandals were on her feet. She removed her royal jewelry and make up. Her hair was pulled back and tied into a ponytail with a string. She hid her crown on her head with a hood. Then she slipped from the palace through the side entrance. The palace servants didn't notice her. They barely gave her a second glance. She took her time walking in among the people watching them sell their wares. She saw food, jewelry and gonoids with their neighing being sold. She carried a basket and was inspecting fruit at a stall when she noticed a young girl wandering around looking lost. The girl looked around as if looking for someone. Isis noticed the panic on the young girl's face. She put the fruit down and wandered over to the young girl. She reached a hand and tapped the girl on the shoulder. Startled the young girl looked at her.

      Isis spoke Hello, where's your sire?

      She smiled as stared at the young girl looking friendly.

      The girl spoke I don't know. I'm looking for my three brothers. They took me here to play and then they left me.

      Tears began to fell from the girl's eyes. Isis sighed and reached over and hugged her.

      She spoke calmly and soothing Show me the play area. I would like to see it.

      The girl calmly took her to the alley. Isis could see it was a play area.

      The girl spoke One of my brothers thought I was playing a trick.

      Isis spoke Hmm? Little girl do you have a name? And what trick is it can you show me?

      The girl answered My name is Tala.

      She sat down as Isis remembered the baby she gave to Governor Sh'ar. Isis kneeled next to her. Tala put her right arm into the hard stone ground like there was a hole. Then she pulled her arm out and there wasn't a hole. Isis reached out and felt the hard stony ground. She examined Tala's right arm. It was fine. Her senses were telling her something was serious here. Tala's arm looked fine but something told Isis that this was a serious matter.

      She asked Tala How long did you discover this?

      Tala answered Since today when I accidentally put my hand in the ground.

      Ion's voice spoke See father! Tala is no sister of ours since she could be Shadonian.

      Startled Isis and Tala looked over at Governor Sh'ar, his sons with two of the royal guard.

      Isis took her hood off revealing her crowned head and spoke Governor Sh'ar what are you up to?

      Governor gasped when he recognized Isis.

      Queen Isis! He exclaimed My apologies. I didn't realize you were interested in the child. Almost nine cycles ago I would have taken her but after seeing what happened with my own eyes I can't or won't have Tala. If it requires my death so be it.

      He paused then continued pointing his finger at Tala You! If I see you around my boys and my estate, I have half a mind to-

      Noticing Isis’ glare, he added Ban you.

      He stormed off with his sons glaring at Tala and the confused royal guards behind him.

      Isis sighed and put her hood back on. Tala started at her with shock on her face.

      Isis spoke Tala it looks like you will be staying in the palace for awhile possibly a long time.

      She held out her hand and Tala shyly took it.

      Isis led Tala through the busy streets and up the hill to the palace. She took her up to the gates. The guards recognizing Isis let them through. Inside the palace gates were the gardens. Tala marveled at the gardens with their flowers blooming. She wanted to stop and look but Isis had a tight grip on her and walked a fast pace. She slipped her through the servant's side entrance. The servants once again gave no notice of Isis and Tala. Inside she passed several doorways and reached the palace pool. Removing her hooded cloak she clapped her hands calling out for the servants as four women arrived carrying clothes, and pillows. They helped Isis take off her sackcloth and put on her royal clothes. Isis sighed as they washed the dirt off her body with water from the pool and put her royal clothes on. One woman fixed her hair up in a style with jewels. Another put jewelry on her neck and wrists as one put sandals laced with gold on her feet. Then Isis settled herself on a couch near the pool.

      She spoke Tala come here and seat yourself

      She patted a space on the couch. Tala came and sat down.

      Isis spoke It won't be long now. My husband will come. Gods! Get this girl something to eat and drink while we're waiting.

      Two servant girls left and went into the palace.

      In a palace room sat the Pharaoh Osiris. He sat with a table full of papers in front of him. He was reviewing plans for battle. It was a perilous time. The Shadonians were increasing their attacks. They were striking travelers coming to and from the city around the region. Some of travelers had sent petitions for help to the Pharaoh for protection. Osiris sighed.

      Groaning he thought It’s going to take a long time before I can settle down and have children.

      One called Mesen who kept trying to invade Zimala led the Shadonians. It was causing havoc on his life with Isis. Sighing he noticed one of the palace servants standing at the doorway to the room. He struggled to recall the servant's name.

      Osiris spoke Yes?

      The servant man spoke Her royal majesty, Queen Isis is waiting for you for a lunch date in the garden near the pool.

      The servant bowed and Osiris dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand. He straightened the papers in neat piles and then he went out of the room. As he was walking down the hall he smelled food. His stomach rumbled. His twin brother who he named Set Chief of Justice came and joined him.

      Set asked How many days must you sit at that table cooped up in your room reviewing battle plans?

      Osiris spoke As long as it’s needed. In five cycles is when Mesen leaves to his kingdom for two cycles.

      He referred to an unknown curse placed on Mesen. The two brothers went down the stairs to the gardens beyond.

      In the gardens sitting on blankets and pillows surrounding a low table of food were Isis and Tala. Set noticed Tala and sneered. He sat down with notes in his hand. Osiris went to Isis and kissed her affectingly. Noticing Tala sitting across from Isis, Osiris sat down.

      He asked Isis Who is your little visitor?

      He gestured with a flick of his hand. Tala flinched under Set's glare which Isis noticed.

      Isis replied This is Tala, the child that was given to Governor Sh'ar. But it seems Tala is not what she seems for an incident had her returned to us.

      Isis noticed Set's look of relief on his face. It made her suspicious. They began to eat the food. Tala thought the food was the best she ever tasted. Being hungry she wolfed down the food with her hands. Osiris noticed this.

      He asked Tala Tala? Don't you have manners? Doesn't Governor Sh'ar ever give you food and teach you the proper way of eating them?

      Set looked amused while Isis seemed thoughtful.

      Isis spoke Tala has Governor Sh'ar been mistreating you?

      Tala spoke hesitantly He has been calling me Shadonian servant. I was treated as a servant expected to do duties for Governor Sh'ar and his family. His wife would treat me like a child behind his back.

      Isis exhaled air as Set spoke "May I order men to arrest Governor Sh'ar for this abuse?'

      Isis and Osiris spoke to each other in ancient language.

      Isis: No I wouldn't recommend the arrest. His wife made up for that treatment.

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1