Chapter 22 Conquest of Chimera

Chapter 22

Conquest of Chimera

  After their tour of Wayferra Carlos and Kress led them back to the Common where Lucius was waiting. After dismissing the centaur and the sprite, he spoke very quietly to Kia and Kian, “Is there anything else you might like to see,” he asked as he watched Carlos and Kress leave.

“Ah no,” Kia said.

  “I have a question, “Kian said.

   Lucius studied his face as he motioned them to follow him to a bridge exit at the far right end of the deck. “Maybe I should show you to your new accommodations first. I imagine you are used to more sophisticated surroundings, come. I give you both the best we have.”

  “The best,” Kian asked, “why the best, is this some sort of offering?”

 “Offering, no,” Lucius reached out and stroked Kian’s stubbly face. “Your skin looks fragile, you have no fur scale, or armor. I am guessing you and your mate will be needing studier walls than pine straw and grape vines. Moreover I want the two of you to see the sky and the sea every time you wake. They are after all your domains, are they not?”

  “William said the Narrows are our domain.” Kian spoke each word with care.

   Lucius blinked as his tail shot straight up, “I have spoken to William. He spoke the truth, he always does. You are Gods.”

  “But you said,” Kian began but Lucius cut him off.

 “I said we would not bow to you and we won’t. But you are not Chimeran, if not Chimeran then as William said do not imagine yourself to be Gods, just because you are, no he did not say the last part, but he should have. Imagination is the threat here, not necessarily the reality of what you are. ”

     With that he stepped onto the bridge. It barely squeaked when they mounted it and followed him down its’ sturdy boardwalk.  Kia clasped Kian’s hand as Lucius led them to a smaller wooden walkway that curved to the right and led them to a large wooden house. It was square and quite sturdy being anchored directly to the ground. As Lucius swung open its’ great oak door they could see the ocean and the sky through a large half circle picture window that filled most of the seaward wall.

  “This is  not an offering or a gift. This is merely fair payment for precious knowledge. What are you?”

  “You just said we were Gods,” Kian said as he and Kia walked into a rather normal but cozy looking living room.

  “Only because we cannot think of anything better to call you. We all have our place in this world. But you come from the sky, from death and yet you give life. You claim the sky, the sea, you have wings but your skin is like a flower petal. You have not just one domain, clearly, you claim them all.  And now you tell us Chimera was once your home world a place called Earth. If that is true, then you are redwood, you are grandfather. That cannot be, unless.” He bit off the last statement as if it burned his tongue.

   “Looks like news travels quick on Chimera,” Kian quipped trying to break the tension. 

  “Two pebbles fall from the sky strikes the sea ripples race out in all directions. But the two of you are not pebbles you are mountains. You have no idea how you left this place called Earth, except that you died.”

   “Yes and I floated above my dead body then darkness came, then light and I was in a big room, a big egg floating above the clouds then Kia flew to me from a plateau and we decided to fly down through the clouds and see what was down here. That’s all I can tell you. Sir I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I want answers too. That’s why the Captain took us to the Narrows.”

  “And your answers led you to save the dyeing,” Lucius said staring out over the sea as if the truth might be one of waves crashing on Wayferra’s shore.

 “No,” said Kia, "our pity".

  “Then you did something monumental for no more reason than sentimentality.”

  Kia nodded yes.

  Lucius walked over to her and cupped her soft smooth cheek, “You love us. But you don’t know us, no more than we you. We must be careful. Tomorrow I will take you to place and show something few eyes have ever seen. In the meantime rest, relish each other. I will send food and drink. This house has water and personal facilities. This is your home now and hopefully forevermore.