Chapter 26
Solution to the Problem
A brown horse galloped through the blasting rain, making its way to the gates of the Savage Kingdom. On top sat an old man covered from head to toe in a black cloak with a green and black hood that shielded his face from the rain. He was making the long trip to Ferocities to see Kalos.
Kalos was sitting in the throne room with Phyliscia. She now had her own throne, and getting her feet washed. Kalos watched intently; he was smitten by Phyliscia. From the moment she came to Ferocities and showed her dark side he fell for her. Now he made sure she was taken care of and spoiled. Phyliscia didn’t mind the treatment. Though she was still deeply in love with Orraco she knew that Orraco’s heart was not with her. She also knew that her knowledge of Ariyah, Grandelyn and the former slaves’ training methods, she could help defeat Grandelyn. It was here at Ferocities where she could be Queen. Though she had no romantic feelings for Kalos, his power was inviting to her.
Zodner came into the throne room cautiously, not wanting to disturb the new couple.
“Emperor, you have a guest.” Kalos, who was nuzzling his hard mask against Phyliscia’s arm, began to chuckle.
“I’ve been getting a lot of visitors this week. My fame isn’t fleeting after all. Send the visitor in.” Zodner sent Semp to get the old man. The two minions directed the man into the throne room. He slowly entered the room, his long hood casting a shadow over his face. He was a very short man, hunched over with long gray unkempt hair creeping from his hood. He, like all visitors of this land, was drenched in rain.
“Who are you?” Kalos asked, as he watched an assistant wash Phyliscia’s feet. The man did not answer.
“Who are you?” Kalos barked this time. The old man whipped his head up, his hood flinging from his head.
“You may want to speak nicely to me. I may have something that can help you.” His said in a hoarse voice. With his hood removed, his ugly face was revealed. He had crooked teeth at the bottom and two missing teeth at the top. The middle of his head was bald, while his long curly gray hair hung low. He had olive colored skin that was very oily, and he had one hazel-colored eye and one dark brown one.
The visitor lifted a brown pouch and dangled it in the air. Kalos sat up straight and Phyliscia waved the assistants away. The old man walked toward them.
“Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Yoser. I have heard through the grapevine that you are missing something very important to you.” Kalos flung his head back in annoyance that somehow everyone knew about his failure. The old man began to laugh.
“Don’t worry son, I have a way to help you get it back.” Gnats gathered and began swarming all around his head. This same promise had been given to Kalos at least three times before. He was sick of promises and wanted results. The man could sense Kalos’s distrust.
Yoser pulled a reddish-brown plant out of the pouch. “The peculiar fruit that is the strength of your enemies, well…this has the strength to overcome that. Allow me explain.” Yoser lifted his hand, and a green mist formed around his palm. The fafura that was on the table behind Kalos flew to him. Everyone was shocked and speechless. The fafura was suspended in the air in front of Yoser.
“This is a rare and exquisite fruit. Nothing can stop the effects of this fruit, except for this.” He went into his pocket and pulled out a handful of brown and red dust. He sprinkled it on the floating fafura and the fafura disintegrated. “The ugari plant is the only thing is the world that can stop the effects of the fafura right in its tracks. It will weaken your enemies by destroying the source of their strength.” Kalos stood at attention; he was amazed at the site of the jade mist surrounding the disintegrated fafura. But he couldn’t help but to wonder who this man was, why was he here and why he wanted to help him.
Yoser could sense Kalos’ apprehension. He wiped his hands on his cloak and walked slowly toward Kalos’ throne.
“I used to live in Grandelyn during King Marquisa’s reign. He was a fine young man, very handsome and giving, but he didn’t approve of my dark magic. So I was sent to live in a shack in the woods. From there I witnessed the destruction of Grandelyn. I saw everything unfold with my own two eyes.” Yoser began talking through gritted teeth, which caused spit to spray from his mouth.
“I barely escaped with my life as I watched the king – your son – destroy our home.” His voice was now filled with anger. Kalos listened quietly and Phyliscia squeezed his hand in fear.
“And why did the king do this? Because of the love for a woman. He destroyed an entire nation because he thought that the love of his life had given her body to another man.” Yoser stepped closer and got into Kalos’s face, staring him down hard.
“But you know very well that wasn’t the case at all.” He whispered. Chills went down Kalos’ back. This man knew way too much. But Kalos didn’t want to interrupt. He needed to know how much more he knew. Yoser stepped back and continued to speak, calmly this time.
“I was the only survivor. I was the only one who escaped the white explosion, and I assume it was only because of my black magic. But I no longer had a home. I traveled the lands of Mandune, never able to find a place to call home. I became a beggar on the streets; ridiculed and sometimes beaten for my disturbing looks. But I returned to what was left of Grandelyn. By now it was being guarded by dragons and evil spirits, so I stayed on the outskirts of the white sand lands. Pretty soon I found myself stalking Grandelyn, longing to be back inside the glorious land. I watched it daily, and often I’d see a woman who looked familiar to me. She was with child. She had tattered clothing and looked severely abused. She would come and talk to these dragons, and they allowed her to enter. She’d walk back out, holding these white fruits that had never been seen by anyone.” Kalos was squirming with anger in his seat. Yoser paced back and forth as he spoke; his sandals squishing out water with each step.
“One day she dropped one of these fruits and I took it for myself. I studied this fruit carefully. I eventually discovered that this fruit was a power source, and it was making those who ate it, well… pudgy.” He chuckled. “I conjured up a spell to combat all of its effects in the ugari plant. You want to know why I want to help? Because your son, the king, made me lose everything. These people that you once enslaved have now gained it all. I want what you want…revenge.”
The whole room was quiet. Kalos couldn’t speak and Phyliscia was afraid to. By now the minions had all snuck out of the room. They couldn’t deal with the creepiness of this old man. Kalos knew this man had a lot of information and was probably the only one that could help him get what was rightfully his.
“Ok, old man, you seem to have all the answers. But tell me how can we get past those dragons? Your ugari plant won’t help us one bit if we can’t get past those.” Yoser began to laugh gleefully as he spun around with joy.
“Don’t fret, my son. I have taken care of that as well. Allow me to introduce you to my red angels.” Yoser stood back and pulled out two blood red flowers, spit in his hands and flung the mucous onto the flowers. Phyliscia gagged at his actions.
“You won’t be disgusted for long, my dear” he laughed. He waved his hands over the flowers in a figure eight motion as a red mist began to form. From this mist two red females appeared. Phyliscia’s mouth dropped and Kalos removed his mask. The females were swaying back and forth and were moaning and groaning incoherently. Their heads were leaned to the side and mouths wide opened as the slurring continued during the complete formation into their bodies.
“Quiet, girls, quiet.” Yoser urged. As they continued their transformation, more of their appearance became visible. They had pale white skin that had a red glaze coating over it. They had curly scarlet-colored hair. Even their eyes were red. Their lips were bright red and dry. They were dressed in red tight knee high lace dresses with red stockings and red heel ankle boots. They were frightening yet angelic-looking beings. The Emperor and his mistress were completely sp
eechless.
“Introduce yourselves, girls.” Yoser said proudly. One opened her mouth to speak but no one could understand her high pitched muffled echoing noise. She sounded like a whale singing under water. As each girl spoke, the other disappeared. Each sounded similar. Their bodies made zipping noises as they disappeared and reappeared. The Torrids who had entered the room didn’t mind the sounds as they too could make deafening noises.
“Can you make them stop speaking?” Phyliscia asked, holding her ears. “Oh yes, mistress. I must apologize for their speech. They communicate better with their hands.” Yoser explained. He hushed the red angels up. They stood still and looked straight up at the ceiling, hands at their sides.
“These are my pride and joy, Crimson and Carmine. They can get past those albino dragons. They can teleport through things undetected. They can lead us into Grandelyn. The rest is up to us.” Kalos sat forward and looked the beings over. He put his mask back, but inside an evil smile came upon his wicked face. Yoser was a blessing in disguise. Finally they had a real plan, and maybe – just maybe – it would work this time.