Galaxian: The Search for Icol

By Carl Sheffield

three hundred years have passed, since humans settled on a plane called Galaxo. Leaving the Moon of Corning
with order from Quad never return. The Centurion and Palatonians have started an invasion Now
trouble come again, this time in the form of Drex. This will lead Shila on a wild quest with her
mentor Basco and son Dris on a search of a lifetime. Let the Search For Icol Begin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781532097553

Carl Sheffield

Born Carl Sheffield, December 17, 1949. To sharecropper in northwest Georgia, a cotton farmer. Like most farmers' sons, I couldn't wait to leave the farm. Joined the army at a very young age. Went to Vietnam and several other countries. Returning home I drove a truck for forty-two years, then retired, owned a restaurant, at this time I have started taking writing lessons.

Book preview

Chapter

1

On a side street, my back to the wall of a building, I stood in the shadows with blurred vision. Pain rushed through my head. I could see beings were moving around. Many thoughts were rushing through my head. Who were they, and yet what were they? There were species of all kinds. Where was I? I couldn’t remember how I got here. Who was I? Looking at my hand, I could see I was a human or appeared to be. I was weak as I turned my face to the sky to feel the warmth of the sun.

Standing with my back against the wall, I slowly slid down to a sitting position, crossing my arms over my knees, letting my head rest on my arms. Many thoughts were running fast, yet I had no answers. How did I get here? Where was here? I was trying to gather my thoughts when a hand touched my shoulder. A voice said in a soft whisper, Come, my friend. It is not safe here.

I asked, Where is here?

The voice said, A long way from you, exile. Come, we must hurry.

The voice sounded human; the touch felt human. Even his words sounded human. Taking my hands from my knees, I placed them on the wall, trying to stand. Looking in the direction of the voice, I stared into the eyes of a species of some sort. A solid flash swept through my thought. Do I know you? I asked.

How could you not know me? My friend, we have been together for many, many years, he answered.

I do not know you. I don’t even know who I am, I replied.

He said, The crash has taken your memories. They will return—I promise this.

Yeah, when? I asked. The being told me he had found a place outside the city, a place of sanctuary.

Sire, he said, the sentries are looking for us. Come with me. I will explain everything to you. Please, sire, we need to move.

I followed this being through the street, stumbling several times before finally falling to the ground. He picked me up.

Come, sire. We must hurry, he said.

Go, I said to him. I’m too weak; leave me.

He replied, I will not leave you, sire.

Sire? I replied. Why do you call me that?

Let’s go, he said, helping me from the ground. Somewhere between here and there, I went cold.

Chapter

2

Strange dreams I had throughout the night, of a beautiful woman. Who was this woman? Did I know her? This woman always came to me. Her hair went below her shoulders, as black as night, and she was dressed in a white robe. Her eyes of emerald green sparkled in my dream. Why could I not remember her? Were we lovers, mates? My eyes opened. I looked around me. I was lying on the floor—where, I knew not. My friend, or so he had claimed to be, was lying by a small fire. I made a grunt that awakened him.

Ah, sire, you are back with the living. You have been gone for several days, as they are on this world.

I stared into the flames. What do you mean ‘this world’? I asked.

He glanced at me with a slight smile. Sire, days do not last long on this world, only a few hours. I watched him as he moved around the fire, not knowing what to expect. Sire, he asked, are you hungry?

Was I hungry?

He said, You know, eat, food. The rumbling in my stomach indicated I was hungry. I tried to stand; I almost fell.

Take it easy, sire, he said. There was that word again.

I said to him, Why do you call me that?

That is what you are. You are my king, he answered.

King! King of what? I asked.

Sire, you were exiled from our world of Galaxo. We fought a good fight. We were surprised by many who came into the castle. Drex had placed his men all around the village, and he struck through the streets without warning. Drex and his rebels killed hundreds of your people, as well as many Claxtons.

I replied, Claxtons? What is a Claxton?

That is my species. We are called Claxtons. You do not remember, sire? I told him no, I didn’t remember much of anything.

Sitting back, he looked at me. Your own brother did this out of greed and jealousy. Drex rose up with his band of rebels, overtook the castle, and slaughtered many, destroying so much. You, sire, were sent to a prison on Advair. Since I was your advisor, he sent me with you. Twenty years we were there.

"You say my ‘brother.’ I have a brother?

Yes, sire, and a very beautiful wife. I do not know what happened to her. I was wounded trying to protect her. It is my belief Drex killed her. I have stood by your side for many years.

Looking at him, I asked, Where are we now?

The being told me he was not sure about the name of this world. He handed me a slice of what looked to be fruit, along with a cup of tea. I sat by the fire for a long while, thinking about what he had said. Looking across the fire, he spoke.

Sire, there are several types of species here. There are humans here too. Sire, you are human. You do have alien blood. Your mother was human. Your great-great-grandfather came from a place called the Moon of Corning. I believe it was several hundred years ago.

I asked, Tell me, what is it you are called?

Tenna. I am called Tenna.

I asked, Tenna, what was this war about, the war with my brother? Tenna handed me another slice of fruit.

Tenna said, The war with Drex started long ago. It ended with him wanting your wife for his own. He wanted the throne for his petty disagreements, but Drex wanted Shara mostly.

Shara, I said.

Tenna told me how beautiful she was. He described every detail. Long black hair, eyes so green.

Yes, I said out loud. I know. I see her in my dreams.

Tenna asked, You dream of her?

I told him every time I closed my eyes, I saw her running to me. Always the same, always.

This is good, sire, Tenna said.

Please don’t call me that, I said.

Tenna asked, Then what shall I call you?

Looking at him, I said, My name. Call me by my name, until I reclaim this throne you speak about. I’m no different from the wind that blows across this place.

He said, As you wish, Icol.

I asked him to tell me more about Shara. Tenna told his tales, and sometime during the night, I fell asleep. In the still of the evening by a small blue lake, with the trees swaying in the rhythm of the gentle breeze, she came to me again. As I looked around at the place, a solid flash hit me. I had been here before.

Her arms were reaching for me. Come to me, she would say. Come to me, reaching for my hands as always. Our hands would touch, our eyes would meet, and her lips would touch mine so softly. The gentle feeling of her embrace was so intense. Then she was gone.

Dreamlike as it was, bits and pieces of my memories would come through. I could not see the castle clearly. Could this be the kingdom Tenna had told me about?

Tenna said I was a king. I saw myself not as a king but just a man. I knew nothing of the years I’d been away. Tenna said the hit I took to the back of my head had taken my memories. If all Tenna said was true, why would I want to remember? My life, my world. I moved to wake Tenna. I pushed at his leg.

Tenna, I called.

He stood up. What is wrong?

I told him I saw the image of a castle.

Tenna said, Good, Icol. Your memories return.

I suppose, Tenna, I said. There are slow, yet they come.

Tenna said, Icol, in a few days, you will be strong enough to leave.

Leave? I said. Tenna, where would we go? We don’t even know where we are.

Tenna replied, Have a little faith, Icol. You will see. When daybreak comes, danger will come with it. The guards will be out on patrol. I tell you, we are searched for. The ship that brought us here crashed. We escaped. I don’t know why we were brought here.

I don’t know, either, I said, lying down close to the fire.

Tenna said, It was as if they wanted us to escape. Icol, you really don’t remember, do you?

I told him I remembered a few things. I do not remember being in a prison or being a king. As far as I know, you could be King Tenna, and I could be your servant.

He stood from the ground. That is not true. You are my king, I swear it. I would die before I would deny you, fight to my death to protect you. I am a Claxton warrior, loyal only to you. It took several minutes for Tenna to settle down.

I asked, Did I have children, Tenna?

He answered with a snarl. No, it was just you and the queen. I do not know what has happened since. There was a captain on a ship, whom I befriended. He told me Drex had locked her away in the castle. He told me she was a prisoner in her own home. He is mean. He kills anyone who defies him. He has taken all the young females to have his children. He is trying for a son. That was long ago. It was reported Drex took his head in the market square.

I asked, How long have you been a guard?

Tenna replied, All my life, as I remember it.

I asked, Then you knew my mother and father?

Yes, Icol, I knew them. I was young when your father acquired me.

What, you were a slave? I asked.

Tenna said, "I was not a slave. I was acquired. I left the home of my father, in the city of the Claxtons, to live with humans. Your father took me in. He trained me to be what I am. You were only a few days old. You’re a warrior too, Icol. This I tell you. I trained you myself. Your mother gave permission to do this.

"Only in secret was I allowed to train you. When you were eight, I took you to the mountains of Trion. For another eight years, I trained you hard. The eight years you were in the city of the Claxtons, you became a great warrior. You took the trial of the warrior. You have the seal on your back to prove it. Yes, my friend, you are a warrior. You left the castle a child and returned a man.

Your father was so upset with me, he had the guards chain me to the walls of the castle. I found it quite humorous. In four days, he released me. He said he could not sleep for me calling his name in the night. Only one bad thing happened while you were away. Your mother gave birth to Drex. From the moment he came into this world, Drex was evil, evil to the core. When Drex was sixteen, he made you a king by killing your father. This cannot be proven, yet I know it to be true.

Tenna stopped talking. He sat poking in the fire for several minutes. I had to know.

I asked him, How do you know it is true?

Tenna said, Rest now, Icol. The fire will die. When the night comes, we must leave.

Tenna, you did not answer me, I said.

The people talk, Icol. Believe me when I tell you Drex is evil.

I closed my eyes. Somewhere in my dreams, Shara came to me. This time, it was more real than before. As she walked to me and enveloped me in a gentle embrace, it was like magic. I was in her arms.

I heard her speak to me: My love, our people have suffered the wrath of Drex.

I know this is only a dream, I told her. My memories have left me. I dream of you, think of you, yet I know you not. My memories are not whole. Tenna tells me of you. He tells me of the throne I have. He calls me ‘sire.’ Tenna and I escaped on a ship as stowaways. I’m hurt. Here in your arms, I feel so warm.

For some reason, I left her before I could hold her. She was so perfect, so graceful. She was a true queen.

Tenna shook me awake. Wake up, Icol. Someone comes.

Tenna eased his body to the small opening. Looking into the darkness, Tenna said. There are six of them, sire.

Tenna, you say I was a warrior.

You are, Icol. A furious warrior you are.

I’m not sure I can fight, I said.

Tenna said, Just follow through. Six is no match for us. If we are discovered, we will fight. Now prepare yourself. I will not go back to that prison. I would rather die here. In this place is where we will stand.

I said, I will fight by your side, Tenna. Maybe it’s my destiny to die here.

Tenna replied with a smile, Icol, your destiny is on the throne of Galaxo.

Chapter

3

I sat alone in my prison cell, waiting for Icol, my husband and king, to return. I’d waited for so long. In my heart, I knew he was not dead. I felt him each time I closed my eyes. I saw him in my dreams. I thought, Am I fooling myself? I thought not. I loved my husband. I knew he was alive. Drex had told me for twenty years he was dead. The dream I’d had last evening had been so real, so magical, as if I had truly held him.

All this time, I had held on to the hope he would someday return. If Icol were alive, he would come for me someday. In my solitude, I’d wait. Only a few times a week was I allowed to go to the garden, escorted by the guards, of course, once loyal to my husband.

Sitting alone in the garden, smelling the fresh air, I heard a voice as the guard approached me.

You are to come with me, he said.

If I don’t? I replied.

The guard said, I will drag you. You mean nothing to me. The king wishes a counsel with you.

I said to him loudly, so loudly the few birds flew away, He is no king. He killed his own father and sent his brother to a prison. Drex has told me several times Icol is dead. I tell you, he is not dead. Icol is alive. You once were a loyal guard to him. Look at you know.

The guard stepped closer. Please come, he said. My lady, what you say may be true. For some of us to remain alive, we had to serve him to save our families. He surely would have killed them as he has so many others. Drex has killed more than a hundred of our people, more than a hundred Claxtons, just because they would not call him king. Drex said as he took the throne, ‘Only the strong survive.’ Remember this?

I said to the guard, The coward in him is the only reason he lives.

My queen, please—

Call me by my name until Icol returns, I said.

The guard said, Then I will call you by your name for a long time, because he is dead.

I walked past him as if he weren’t there.

He said, Shara, please, come with me?

Walking through the garden, I said, You know he is alive.

The guard replied, I know nothing. If you say he is alive, I would say you are mistaken.

I told him I had been with Icol in my dream.

Shara, please.

I asked, Where do you take me? I am a prisoner, remember?

Yes, you are. You need to remember that. Drex has killed for less. Drex will speak to you.

I looked at him. You don’t call him king. Very well. Where is he? In the castle?

He answered, No, Shara. He is in his chambers.

I will not go there. If Drex wishes to speak to me, he can speak where there are people. If not, take me back to my room. Walking back to the tower, my home for so many years, I told him, Go to him. Tell Drex what the queen has said. Tell him I will not come to his room, that I would die first.

Locking the door, the guard went to Drex. In the chambers of Drex, the guard knocked on the door.

Sire, he said, the queen has said she would die first before coming here, to your chambers.

Drex was mad. You could see it in his eyes that his blood was hot.

Drex said in a sharp voice, Very well. I’ll go to her. I’ll kill her myself, something I should have done a long time ago.

Walking down the long corridor to the outside walls of the castle, Drex caught a faint breeze. It was a feeling he did not like, something he had not felt in many years, something he felt on the wind.

As he looked out the window, a ship thundered overhead. Drex knew from the markings it was from Advair. Drex watched the ship as it landed on the pad. The hatch opened; two men alighted from the ship. Sentries made their way from the ship to form a circle. Drex thought to himself, Now what? His mind went to Shara, and he whispered, She will have to wait. The Advairans were not due for several weeks. Why were they here now?

Drex turned to leave. I’ll deal with Shara later. Drex sent a sentry to escort the captain to the council.

I watched them go. I watched them go into the council.

Walking to Drex, the captain bowed. King Drex.

Drex asked, Captain, why are you here? You’re not due for another month. The captain began to speak.

I reached through the door, unlocking it. I made my way to the council chambers. Standing just beyond the reach of Drex, I listened to what was said. It was my castle. I knew my way around, dodging the guards. In my heart, I knew some of the guards were still loyal to Icol. They did what they had to do to stay alive. I knew one of them was. I heard the captain speak to Drex.

Sire, there has been an accident on a planet several galaxies away. Several days ago, a ship left Advair. At that time, two prisoners went missing.

There was silence. What does that have to do with me? Drex asked.

Sire, one of them was your brother, and the other one was the Claxton. I believe you called him Tenna.

I let out a gasp, not loud enough to be heard. Backing up, I turned to the guard.

What are you doing here, Shara? he asked.

I smiled. Did you hear him? You did. Now you know he is alive. The guard escorted me back to my room. He said, I can’t protect you forever, Shara. Someday, this curiosity of yours will get you killed. The guard pushed me into the room as the door closed behind me.

I said, I’d rather be dead than let him touch me. As the guard locked the door, I pleaded, Go see for yourself. If it’s true, come to me. Let me know.

He asked, Shara, how am I to find out?

I told him to walk among the guards. Talk to them, Tankko. You know he is alive.

Tankko replied, I know nothing. Then he walked away.

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In the chambers of Drex, the captain asked, Sire, are we to look for Icol? We were told the ship crashed on Gara.

Drex asked, Were there survivors?

Yes, there were. It was told to me two walked away. We are looking for them. It was reported we have no idea who they were. We tracked them to a small village, where we have a trade agreement. If it was your brother and the Claxton, we will find them.

Drex said, If you find them, do not take them prisoner. Kill them where you find them.

The captain walked to the door of the council. Stopping, he saw a female being escorted by a guard. He was leading her down a long corridor. Thoughts ran through his mind. Could this be the queen? He had been told she was alive.

Captain, Drex called, something else you want to say?

No, sire. I will be gone.

Drex said as he walked into the corridor, Kill them where you find them. I wish not to be burdened with this again.

The captain left, walking down the long corridor. Between two small steeples, he caught the scent of a female. There was no doubt the queen was alive. The captain approached his ship. Tankko was talking to the sentries as the captain neared the ramp. He called to Tankko, Sir, who are you?

Coming to attention, Tankko replied, One of the king’s guard, sir. Just making conversation. Always wanted to serve on a ship. Never had the chance.

He got close to Tankko. Is the queen alive?

Tankko replied, I know nothing of a queen. Drex has many females in the castle.

Tankko, we look for Icol. It’s time he comes home. If you are the man I think you are, you will pass the word—only to those you can trust. Someday, he will return. This I promise you. I give you my word as a captain.

Tankko asked, Why are you telling me this?

This king of yours, he scares me, Tankko. Now I’m going to push you. Believe me, he is watching. The captain called to his guards.

I fell to the ground with weapons drawn on me. The captain smiled, then walked on to his ship.

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Inside the castle, Drex walked very fast to Shara’s room, opening the door and walking in.

I asked, Drex, what is it you want?

Drex said, I’ve come to you one last time. Marry me or die.

Shara walked to a small window, staring out for several moments. Drex asked, Shara, what will it be? Shara opened her robe so her breast was exposed. It was like a mountain peak, so beautiful, so full for a woman her age. Shara’s exposed breast almost took Drex’s breath away.

Take your sword, Drex, and push it deep into my chest. I’d rather die than be anything to you. Drex stared at me. Sweat beaded his forehead. Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Drex said, Please, Shara, I beg you. I love you.

You’re a pitiful excuse for a man. You’re nothing compared to your brother. You’re useless. Kill me now, as you have tried to for so many years. I knew the words I wanted to say. Now they came so easily. You say you love me, Drex.

Yes, Shara, yes. I love you, Drex replied.

Oh, Drex, you love me with the twenty-five young girls in your chambers.

Drex said, I’ll kill the one who told you that.

I replied, "Yes, Drex, I’m sure you will. You have killed for less.

Drex stood looking at me. Shara, you will die here in this room.

I asked Drex, Do I die by your hands, Drex, or some pitiful guard who is not worthy to take the life of a queen? You are a coward, Drex, a moron. If my husband were alive, he would kill you himself.

Drex said, Your husband is dead, Shara, because he was weak. I took his throne. I have his wife. In this very room, you will die of old age. I will damn you to that, Shara. I will order no one take you to the garden or speak to you again. If I find they have broken my order, I will have their heads.

Drex, as I have said, you have killed for less.

Drex turned to walk away. I said to him, You’re no man, Drex. You’re a stinking coward. Closing the door behind him, I went to the small table taking the quill and parchment.

I am Queen Shara, wife of Icol. Drex has me imprisoned in the east tower overlooking the city. In the darkness, look and you will see a single light.

I folded the letter it dropped it from the window. A small breeze took the parchment through the courtyard and into the door of a market. I thought, How did that happen?

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A young girl, not yet old enough for Drex to take, was sweeping the walk. She was old enough to read to read the note. She took the small parchment, read it, and gasped. Folding it, she placed it in the pocket of her apron. Her father was watching.

Shila, what have you there, child? he asked.

Oh, Father, it’s just a piece of parchment I wish to keep.

Her father asked, May I see it, Shila?

Father, please it’s nothing.

Shila’s father said, If it is nothing, Shila, let me see it.

Shila took the paper from her apron and started to hand it to her father when a guard came in. Drex wants his payment, storekeeper.

Shila said, If the real king were here, you would not be alive.

The guard laughed out loud. Storekeeper, tell your daughter to mind her mouth. You will be next to go to the castle.

Leaving the store, the guard thought of what she had said. If Icol had been here, would things be different?

Shila’s father asked, Shila, the paper? Taking the paper and reading it, he staggered, catching himself on the counter before he fell.

Shila, where did you find this?

It blew into the store, Father.

Shila, do not speak of this to anyone.

Father, how much longer are you and the others going to be ruled by a madman?

Shila, not a word to anyone.

Shila turned walked back to the walk.

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I’ve watched my child grow to the girl she is, raising her alone from birth. She had her thirteenth birthday in the summer. When she reaches fifteen, she will be taken to Drex. She despises Drex. I’m afraid she will kill herself before she goes.

Shila asked, Father, may I have a leave to visit a friend?

I nodded my head. Walking to the baskets, Shila placed several pieces of fruit in her bag. Leaving the shop, she walked to the gate, where she was stopped by the guards.

Where do you go, child?

Shila told them she was going to visit a friend for fruit and tea. I won’t be gone long, she told them.

Walking along the road, many thoughts ran through my mind. I continued walking along the trail to the plains.

Sometimes I could see things from afar. I’d never told anyone about my visions, even when I watched the king’s guards work. I was going to the home of the man who, in my eyes, was the greatest warrior of all. He would tell tales of his travels when I visited. Basco had a son the same age as me. I knew Basco was teaching him the skills of a warrior, a Claxton warrior. Claxton warriors were superb fighters, the best.

In the early morning air, walking alone as my shadow lay before me, I felt a strange feeling, a creepy feeling. I hurried to the house of Basco. As I approached the stoop, Basco, was in the backyard. He was working on his scruple.

Morning, sir, I said.

Shila, how do you fair this morning? Basco asked. I looked around. Basco said, Dris is in the house, Shila. What do you have in the basket? I told him I had brought him and Dris some fruit.

Basco said, Let’s go inside, Shila. Dris will be pleased to see you. Walking into the front room, Dris stood with a smile on his face.

Morning, Shila, he said. I told him the same. The talk was going on when from nowhere came a question to Basco.

I asked, May I ask you a question, Basco? Did you know King Icol?

Basco looked at me. Shila, why do you ask me this.

Basco, I have no reason. One more question.

Basco said, Go ahead.

Will you train me as you do Dris? Basco gave a hard laugh. He was so powerful; he had to be six feet three. Dris, at thirteen, was also tall. Basco was so powerful. His hair was down to his shoulders. His chest and arms bulged with muscles.

I asked him, Did you get those from working or training?

Basco replied, You ask a lot of questions for a little girl.

I jumped up from the table. I might be a little girl, but this little girl will do two things.

What will that be, Shila?

I will go to the mountains of Trion; I’ll have the Claxtons train me. Then I will find our king, and I will kill Drex. You will see.

All the time this talk went on, Dris, son of Basco, was listening to me.

Dris said, Father, I feel the same. Father, you are a great warrior. The Claxton is the greatest of all. Father, you fight as they do.

Basco said, Son, I fight as they do because I was trained by Tenna, the grand warrior of the Claxtons.

Basco, I will return tomorrow for your answer. I looked at him. Either way, sir, I will be trained by you or the Claxtons. Before I leave, there is something I want to show you. I pulled the paper from my pocket. This made its way to the store this morning.

What is it? Basco asked. I handed the paper to him. Reading the paper, Basco asked, Shila, who else knows of this? I told him just my father and me. He told me not to show it or speak of it to anyone.

Basco asked, Then why did you show it to me?

Basco, besides my father, you and Dris are the only ones I can trust. Even now, I ask myself, can I trust you? My queen is locked away in her own castle while her husband has been exiled or killed. I promise you, I will find out. The queen should be on the throne, not Drex.

Dris was at the door. Father, someone comes.

I replied, It’s the guards. I told them I was coming for fruit and tea. Cups and fruit were sitting on the table when they came through the door. They never knocked; they just walked in. Basco stood, his arm, bulging with muscle, reaching for his sword.

Can I help you? Basco asked.

The guard asked, What are you doing here?

Basco said, This is my house. I need not answer to you.

The guard asked, Only the three of you?

Is that all you see? Basco asked. I admit, I had a smile on my face and a little tingle in my stomach. I was thrilled to hear Basco stand up to them. I loved Basco.

Basco said, There are only two here. Sometimes Shila comes to visit my son.

The guard looked at me. He said, Basco, don’t get close to her. She will be going to the castle soon.

I jumped up. I will die by your hands before I go to that place, I said.

The guard looked at me. You have spirit. I’ll give you that, little one.

Standing with my hands on my hips. I moved to one side. I mean it. You remember this when the time comes. Tell that coward when he sends for me, he should send you. You come to get me, and I promise you: you or I will die. It won’t be me.

The guard said, I could kill you for that. The guard started to pull his sword, looking at Basco, who had his hand on his. He had known Basco from long ago, and he knew Basco was a warrior.

The guard said again, I could kill you now for those words.

I told him, Do it. You’re no man. You’re nothing without that thing you call the king. Please tell him in two years, when I’m of age, to send you. The guard left. Basco looked at me, then to Dris.

Basco said, Dris, pack only a few things. Shila, you cannot return to the village today if you plan to go to the Trions.

The day went on. Basco worked out with his training. Basco told us we were waiting for darkness to come. He said he didn’t want to cross the plains in daylight.

Basco, will you train me? I asked.

Basco said, Shila, I will take you and my son to the Trions. I will speak to the Claxtons. I promise you nothing.

I asked Basco, Will they let me speak?

Basco said, I will ask, Shila. There’s only one thing that bothers me.

I asked him, What is that?

Basco replied, The Claxtons have never trained a human female.

I asked Basco, Have they trained Claxton females?

Yes, Shila, Basco replied, several.

I said, If you convince them to let me speak, they will train me.

Basco brought his scruple from a hiding place, and we started packing it. The craft was small. Walking around, he took a rock and knocked out all the lights. Dris and I waited inside for darkness to come. Dris walked to me. Shila, are you afraid?

I stood and looked at him. I will become a warrior, Dris. I will free my queen. I will find our true king or die trying. I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. I have talked to several of the people who came to my father’s shop. You know, the older ones. They say he was a true king who took care of his people. Drex will never be my king.

Basco came from the stoop to the table where Dris and I were. I knew Icol very well, he said. As I have said to you, Tenna trained me. I was a king’s guard. There were only twenty-six king’s guards. The rest were guards and sentries. Drex took his rebels into the village. Icol was captured before he knew what had happened. It was that quick. Tenna was placed in chains. It caused a war between the humans and the Claxtons. The Claxtons thought it was Icol. Later, they discovered it was Drex.

Basco sat at the table eating some bread with a bowl of soup. Looking at me, he said, "Many died that day before the fighting stopped. The Claxtons went back into the mountains of Trion.