Gauntlet - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

James paced the floor waiting to hear from Mia. It had been hours since she kissed him goodbye and went to deliberate with the queen. Through the window he could see the setting sun being blanketed by rolling clouds. He felt chills when she told him the council was called to witness the priestess's case of him being, what she now called him, the Avataria. Despite his doubts, he had faith in Mia. She was on a mission to save his life and James felt deep admiration for her tenacity. She was so confident that he was the one to save her Mother from mortal danger. How could I tell her that faith was misplaced.

James spent most of his time looking through the holy texts. The strange wording of the passages made them difficult to read and he quickly gave up. He then went through the priestess's chests and shelves. Rummaging into her personal affects he found a deck of cards. Pulling the cards from the box, they were all adored with strange pictures to reflect some kind of esoteric meaning. Placing the deck on a table he began to shuffle and pass the cards to the corners of the table. The nostalgic action made James reminisce about his poker night with the buddies. He laughed as his friends would brag about how much money they would take from him. When he finished giving his nonexistent friends their cards, he slapped the deck in his palm.

Alright guys, lets see my hand. Flipping one a card in front of him, James was surprise to see the card Priestess. Examining the card closer he saw a resemblance to Mia. Brushing the resemblance aside he threw down the next card. Queen appeared. The picture looked like Queen Jasmine, the short straight hair and blue eyes were a dead giveaway. What is going on here? James carefully turned over the next card. Trial loomed as it fell on top of the Queen card. Seeing the giant scales on the Trial card made James feel on edge. He saw a small shape of person under the base of the scales, as if being crushed by them. Is this going to happen to me? Shaken, he let two cards fumble on to the table.

Quest and Tower turned face up and seemed to stare back at him. The Quest card looked to have three figures riding along a winding road into a great forest. Tower was a beautiful piece of art of a stone tower on a red sunlit backdrop. The normalcy of the card comforted James until it began to change. The picture morphed into a twisted dark tower with men impaled on long poles lining the gate. The sight made James penis recede. James wanted to throw the cards across the room, but felt compelled to continue. He flipped the last two cards. His left hand held the card Heroine and the right held Cataclysm.. James was startled as the two cards began to morph and let them fall. Changing in the air, the glorious woman's face on the Heroine card resembled James's face and Cataclysm showed a black-clad gauntlet squeezing a small planetoid in its palm.

James stood frozen wondering if the cards projected doom or hope. What does this have to do with me? Do I overcome the cataclysm, or do I die in it? The lock to the chamber door screeched as the bolt slide free. A guardswoman entered the room holding her halberd tentatively.

A look of scorn filled her face as her eyes fell on James. "The queen and council require your presence. Do not give me any trouble Lady James."

James held is hands up in surrender. "Lead the way."

James wiped the sweat from his forehead as he entered the throne room. The guard wielding the pole-axe was enough cause for worry but facing the council petrified him. The extravagant decor of the royal chamber looked wasted when he saw the room vacant. Following a red carpet to the dais, the carpet changed into a circular pattern in front of the elevated throne. The carpeted circle had a pentagram shape in the center that made James sweat a little more. As soon as he stepped on the center of the pentagram the golden doors swung open that queen emerged from before. The queen was flanked by a cohort of women all wearing outfits resembling a nun's habit. The rich blue robes were beautifully crafted and did not hide their hourglass figures the women were sporting. The queen sat on her throne as the council members formed a horseshoe formation with the queen at the base and James in the center. James had an eerie feeling as the women turned to face him in unison.

The council raised their right arms and chanted. "We the Council of Twelve pledge to Mother Nis to be her judicators and bestow wisdom to her chosen queen."

Queen Jasmine gave a slight wave and the nun-like women took rigid postures as if they were statues. "The Queen calls to question that the woman known as James is the Avataria of Tozan? Let the will of Tozan manifest itself through my council. You may proceed Beatrice."

The furthest women left of James spoke. "We have heard Priestess Mia's testimony to the fact that you are a different kind of woman. She also tells us that by your activities last night you have gained the blessing of our ever loving god," Beatrice weaved her hands together and paused to gather her thoughts, "we grant you, Lady James, that the High Priestess adds credibility to your identity, but we must be careful. Mia also told us of the wrath we would bring if the faith we put in you is false. Granted, some of the council members are convinced of your identity, but some of us have questions."

Beatrice locked her blue eyes on James. He felt as if she was burning a hole in his skull. "I will come to the point. Are you the Avataria, the blessed of Tozan?"

James sighed. I hope you're right Martin. "I am," James announced.

A dark-skinned woman next to Beatrice turned to face James. "Then why did you not tell the queen when you arrived. I find it strange that you made no mention of your identity."

James stood up straight and thrust out his chest displaying an aura of confidence. "I believe I did reveal myself by saying I was a man. By telling you this your High Priestess Mia was given a sign to take me into her confidence and I would receive the blessing."

The black woman nodded. "And the key you are to hold, what of it?"

"I did not arrive with the key but I am sure it is here on Nis. When the time comes the key will be revealed to me, as it is written in the holy books."

"I see," Beatrice tapped her chin, "I accept your answers to Sister Octavia's questions, but why did you have no knowledge of Mother Nis?"

James's clasped his hands behind his back. "I told your High Priestess that I am not from Nis. I am from a higher plane where Tozan rules and watches his venerating subjects. When I was cast down I went through a terrible ordeal. To be separated from our benevolent god caused a great upheaval within me and for a time I was afflicted with amnesia. But that time has passed. I am here to do our god's work," James forced tears to swell in his eyes.

A councilwoman to the right spoke up. "Sister Beatrice, her explanation makes sense logically and spiritually. We agree that when a woman of Nis dies, she is delivered to the loving arms of Tozan. We know this because no one has ever returned from Tozan's paradise. We must assume that leaving such contentment would take a toll on any of us. That includes the Avataria."

All the councilwomen to the right nodded and add the voices in approval. James notices that the blue robed women to the left stayed silent in disagreement. All the councilwomen on the right must be the one's convinced I am the Avararia. With the opposition group on the left. Six against six, I need to sway more of them to pull this off.

Beatrice raised her voice to halt her opposition. "That's enough, Sister Marigold you have made your point. Lady James, now that you have regained your memory, please tell us how you are to save Mother Nis?"

James cleared his throat. "All of the details have not been revealed to me but I am sure they will come in time."

Beatrice gave a doubtful stare. "Tell us what you know, Lady James."

James reached back into his mind to remember the images on the cards in Mia's chamber. Slowly piecing the reflections together he formed a likely story. Confident, James raised his chin to address the council.

"I am to embark on a long journey that will determine the fate of Mother Nis. I am to be accompanied by two others to be my guides. Passed a great forest I will find a black tower which I will find the cancer that grows in heart of Mother Nis."

Octavia gasped. "You mean the Witches Citadel? We have sent armies to raze Hagqueen Hyacinth's stronghold and have been repeatedly repulsed. You would never reach it."

James crossed his arms. "Nothing is impossible for Tozan's emissary."

Beatrice scowled as if offended by James's audacity. "I find it hard to believe that Hagqueen Hyacinth is responsible for all of our mother's ills. Granted, she is a threat to all femelle, but the scope of the crisis is beyond her powers. She could not cause the storms that ravage the land, the floods that have destroyed our settlements, the famines that starves the peasantry, and the plagues eating away at our populous. No, my dear sisters this man is not the Avataria. The true Avataria would vanquish all doubts to her identity!"

James burned with anger. He took a long hard look at the women of the council. Each woman started to steal glances awaiting his reaction. Some of the women opposed to him gave guilty stares but other opponents looked more sympathetic. James realized these women wanted to believe him and that Beatrice must have bullied them into standing with her. I must break the hold she has over them. I will not be crushed by this kangaroo court.

James strode out of the carpeted circle to the shock of queen and council. For the first time the sanctimonious women looked human. Their statue façade broke down as the councilwomen scrambled to understand James's action. Each one turned to the other and whispered franticly to one another; wanting someone to respond to James's defiance to the witenagemot's rules. He paid them no heed as he confronted the women left of him.

Beatrice finally calmed her sisters and pointed at James in contempt. "You are to return to the circle immediately! Or the guards to put you in irons!"

James scoffed at Beatrice's threat. "I have had enough of your browbeating, Beatrice. You do not speak for the entire council and I will address my sisters in any way I choose."

Beatrice screamed a bloodcurdling howl. "Queen Jasmine, call the guards and chain her to the circle!"

The queen gave her a condescending glare. "Know your place councilwoman, you are my sycophant, not the other way around. I will allow this breech of protocol."

"Thank you your Majesty," James slowly stepped toward the habit dressed women, his arms spread out wide as if to hug the congregation," My sisters, I ask for all of you to look upon me."

Some of the opposition turned their heads, but others still kept their faces blank as if looking into a void. James's voice boomed. "I said look upon me!" Startled, all the holdouts eyes met his gaze, with Beatrice the last to give in, "I know what I have said is disjointed and incomplete but you must believe that it is the truth. I can not speak for our all-knowing god, but Tozan works in mysterious ways, and who are we to question our deity's motives. Perhaps in keeping the details of my mission Tozan is protecting me from those who would do me harm. Whatever the reason, I ask not to judge me with the coldness of your minds, but the warmth of your hearts. Search within yourselves and trust the feelings you find. For if I do not undertake this journey, Mother Nis will be lost."

James looked to the beautiful queen parched on her throne. "That is all I have to say, do with me as you will."

Queen Jasmine made rapid nods in compliance. "I call the vote. The council will choose where they stand."

James walked back to the circle awaiting their decision. After what seemed like an entirety a huge weight lifted off his shoulders when, one by one, the opposition took their place next to their sisters on the right. All but Beatrice and Octavia stood to the right of James.

Octavia turned to Beatrice. James could see the conflict on black woman's face as she spoke. "I am sorry," she said as she walked and stood next to Marigold. Beatrice shot daggers at her former proselyte.

Marigold's smile lit up the room. "Your judicators have made their ruling my queen. Lady James is the Avataria, savior of Nis!"

The royal stood and lifted her arms above her head. "Let the promulgation be known to all femelle that our deliverer has come. Soon, peace will return to Mother Nis. The Council of Twelve is adjourned."

Beatrice stormed out of the throne room with a few blue-clad women in tow. The others stayed to watch James triumphantly marched out of the circle. He seemed to have a stalwart aura emanating from him. James gave the council members a reverent bow as Marigold approached him.

"Thanks to you I am head of the Council of Twelve. Beatrice will have to relinquish her position to me after this defeat."

"May you bestow wisdom to your sovereign as you did today."

Marigold grinned. "I must say, it was your words that broke her hold over the others, not mine."

"Indeed she did," the queen stated swaying elegantly as she descended on the dais steps, "congratulations Sister Marigold on your appointment."

"Thank you my queen. May I make my first suggestion that Lady James should leave first thing in the morning. I fear the hagqueen's spies will report the arrival the Avataria before you make the announcement."

"I agree, James must be on her way as soon as possible."

James cleared his throat. "What about the two companions I mentioned?"

Marigold rubbed her chin. "I suggest none other than your champion, Majesty. Dame Lisbeth and her squire would been a perfect combination to protect Tozan's emissary. Lisbeth is unmatched in martial skill and Windi is returning today from the cloister in Ruma. I have heard she has reached the eleventh tier in the magical arts."

The queen smiled at her new head council. "Excellent suggestion. Have them informed immediately, and make arrangements for their journey. Now, I wish to speak to the Avataria alone. Have your sisters retire to their duties."

"Yes, my queen."

Before Marigold could walk away; James caught her hand. Caressing her soft skin he lifted her hand to his lips. Kissing her knuckles he felt Marigold shiver as he released her from his grip.

"I wanted to thank you personally for your faith in me. I know Tozan will reward you well for your devotion."

Marigold narrowed her eyes. "I look forward to accept any reward our god would bestow."

A pang of jealousy washed across Queen Jasmine face. "Do not keep me waiting, Sister."

Marigold looked to have awakened from a forbidden reverie as she bowed to her queen and departed the room. James turned to Queen Jasmine as she removed long hairpins holding up her hair. Thrashing her head side to side, her blonde curls seem to dance as they fell to her shoulders. Her azure eyes brightened as her finger tips lightly touched James's face.

"There is something I wanted to ask you in private, Lady James. It has been a long time since I have been called to the ceremonies. Have I done something to anger Tozan? Am I no longer worthy to please our god?"

James's heart began to beat faster. "I can't imagine that your Highness."

"Each time I am ignored my longing becomes greater. I was born to rule Nis in accordance to Tozan's will, but it grows harder to be the paragon of all femelle. Please, release me. I can't stand the exile from our god's eyes."

James quickly stepped away and turned his back to Jasmine. "I am flattered, but I can not. I am... bound by the infallible guidance of my master. I must abide by the law."

Jasmine embraced the Avataria and pressed her cheek to his chest and rubbed his shoulders. "But you prayed with Mia? And from what I understand the prayers you lifted to Tozan rivaled any ceremony. I want to show my devotion through you."

As Jasmine's hands drained the tension from his body, he fought to keep from falling into in the trap made by his own desires. His hands betrayed his thoughts as he reached back to grope her thighs. Pleased with his advance the queen whirled in front of James and dug her nails into his heaving chest.

The queen voice lowered to a whisper. "Give me my only transgression. I beg you."

Jasmine leaned closer, bringing her mouth to his and closed her eyes. Her hot breath warmed his lips as she waited for his touch. James's pulse pounded in his ears. It sounded like lustful drumbeats beckoning him on. He placed his hands on her hips and glided his fingers up her body. Her breathing quickened as James cupped her breast and caressed her in his arms. He pulled on the sashes that held her kimono like gown closed. The silk gown flew open exposing her left breast to him. James firmly gripped her breast forcing her erect nipple to jut into his mouth. A loud gasp filled the room as he molested her large mammary. Feeling her hot flesh in his mouth, James was lost on a raging sea of lust. Jasmine hiked her leg around his back and pressed against his skin. She acted like a horsewoman goading her steed on. James couldn't wait to hear her scream his name in defiance to the god that created her.

Suddenly, the whole palace shook. The two would-be lovers fell to the floor as loose mortar rained down covering them in a white dust. James managed to stand only to be thrown back down by another violent lurch. I've heard of the earth moving but this is a little more than I expected.

A group of guardswomen stumbled into the throne room. The women struggled to stand when a loud boom rocked the walls sending them to the ground like a house of cards. Half of the queen's guardians crawled their way to their sovereign and surrounded her. Two of them hooked their queen's arm around their heads and propped her up.

Jasmine yelled over the loud echoes ringing down the halls. "Esme! What's happening?"

"A freak storm, Majesty. I saw it gather over the castle in the last hour. It is the worst one yet!"

"Damn, not again. Not now! Evacuate the lower levels before the dungeon floods! Make sure everyone is accounted for."

"What of the prisoners?"

"Leave them, now hurry before the throne room is underwater."

Esme bolted from the room when the ground stopped shaking. James stood with the help of two another guardswomen but shrugged them off when he could stand. James fought to keep his balance as if he was playing a game with the thunderclaps trying to throw him down.

The queen raised her head and gave her subjects a haughty gaze. She spoke when she closed her gown with a new-found modesty. "Come my sisters. We will be safe in the parapets."

The group of women clung to each other as they made their way to a marble staircase in the foyer outside the throne room. James slowly followed up the stairs gripping the oak railing. Half way up the stairs he entered a mass of women pushing and shoving their way to the protected towers. It felt like hours before James made it to the parapet that the queen's entourage took refuge. He saw Lisbeth at the entrance counting the women as they entered the fortified tower. She gave him a hesitant nod as she gave the last count.

Lisbeth approached her queen and bowed. "The lower levels are flooded and the first floor is filled with water. Thankfully, all has been accounted for. It seems the storm is finally losing strength, we have only to wait out the rain."

"Good, the drains will take care of the water after the storm passes. I am glad we did not lose anyone."

James leaned against the wall next to where Jasmine was sitting and crossed his arms. "A shame the prisoners could not be saved."

Jasmine face contorted with angst. "They are enemies of my realm and if fate takes them then so be it."

"I think their fates would have been more fortunate if you would have shown some compassion."

"I will not have my orders questioned. I was born to rule this world and I will make any decision I see fit. Do you understand me, Avataria?"

"Perfectly."

James cringed when the blue eyes of Jasmine he had admired a moment ago turned into pure ice. Color seemed to drain from Jasmine's face leaving her complexion the color of granite. He realized that under her beauty was a heart made of stone. As dead as the prisoners floating in her dungeon.

James pushed off from the wall with his foot and walked to the outside entrance to the castle walls. Opening the door revealed pitch black with sheets of rain only visible by the torchlight. He stepped out into the downpour and felt an intense chill as the water soaked his clothes.

Jasmine jumped from her ornate chair that looked like a secondary throne. "What are you doing? Are you mad? You will catch your death."

James lifted his arms out wide thanking the rain. "I feel dirty, I need a shower."

Jasmine stuttered as she pointed at James in contempt. "I order you to come back inside!"

James walked into the darkness as Lisbeth placed her hand on her queen's arm. "Let her go my queen. Maybe it is a man thing."

The single moon fought to shine its light through the clouds onto the world of Nis. James took some comfort in the familiar site but was disheartened by the angry clouds that shrouded its glow. Using the light from the stuttered windows of the castle, James found a stairway to the top of the parapet. He slowly placed each footstep firmly on the slick stone steps. The wind only barely nipped his face that seemed to be inviting him to proceed to the top.

The rain lightened as he reached the crenellated walls. The darkness that surrounded him was now illuminated by the occasional lighting flash. The rumbling of thunder echoed in the distance but the incredible force still shook James's body. The land of Nis was masked behind the blackness and James wondered what the morning would reveal. Do I really want to see it? It was no coincidence that the thunderclaps were at their worst when I had Jasmine in a rutting. I was about to fuck your lovely ice queen and you could not stand that. Could you, Tozan?

James shouted at the rain. "My name is James! Pleased to meet you Tozan!"

Lighting flashes throughout the sky was James's only response. The force of the thunder that followed felt like slight punches battering against his body. The violent response was followed by more clouds concentrating above him. Lighting arced from cloud to cloud as if the god's thoughts were in confusion. James started to laugh sensing the god's frustration.

The mocking laugher made the bolts arc longer and brighter than before. James looked like a madman laughing at the rain as the dance of lighting intensified above him. Finally, a bolt rocketed down into the moat sending the water skywards in a large explosion. More bolts of lighting followed landing across the countryside with a loud crack. A few impacted the tall towers of the castle blasting stone into rubble. Pieces of rock rained down onto the battlements as James knelt and cringed next to the wall. With his arms over his head James shook in fear as large stone blocks fell inches away from him.

Another explosion of lighting came down as if an outraged archer fired again after missing his mark. James peered up to see one of the castle's towers sway back and forth fighting to remain stable. A brilliant lighting bolt slammed into the base of the tower ending its fight. The stone structure disintegrated as in fell away from the castle. As the lighting flashed James could see women falling from the tower and heard their faint screams against the thunder's roar.

When the lighting subsided, James slowly grabbed one of the battlements teeth and pulled himself up. His legs shook violently as he gaped in terror at the site of the missing tower. The countryside was littered with fires and James awed at a huge oak tree across the moat that was engulfed in flame. James's teeth clattered together as he stared into the burning tree. A chill ran down his spine seeing a face form in the flames. Gaps in the fire seemed to form the eyes and mouth and the whipping flames at the top of the tree looked like wavy hair. James could swear the mouth moved whispering the words...you will die. This forewarning echoed in James's mind. Tozan is an angry and jealous god.

The End

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