Carpathia IV: Episode 249 - Whispers of the Bat King
Aionaptara's Island
A breeze wafted in from the ocean, not a cool, pleasant sort of breeze one would expect, but a hot jolt of the sort one would experience when opening an oven door. The sand remained placid, entirely unperturbed by the wind, as though held to the ground with glue. Up to now, the only thing keeping Joust from losing his mind being so close to Aionaptara was his job of managing his team. Without that responsibility, every muscle in his body felt like they were going to contract until he curled up in a little ball. Joust stayed in the middle of the group, with Admiral Zhang and Aire in front and Phobos and Ryuu bringing up the rear. He knew, however, that this wouldn't keep him unnoticed. There was no doubt in his mind that Aionaptara would likely take a keen interest in him.
The wooden planks were just wide enough to accommodate two side-by-side, but only barely. Joust had his place all to himself, but even Admiral Zhang and Aire in front were slightly staggered to give each more room. It was a slow, anxious walk, for not only was Aionaptara a danger, but also the sand. Joust's head whipped around in all directions, barely taking in the structures, but watching for Aionaptara and making sure he was dead-center on the wooden planks.
The great, black temple in the center of the island drew Joust's attention, along with everyone else, for they also gazed up at it with apprehension. A good chance, Joust thought, that Aionaptara would be inside, waiting for them. Joust kept one eye on the temple and the other eye on the path as they inched forward. From the foot of the stairs, they could see inside, but only the ceiling and the pediment looming ominously over them. They stood silently together, gazing upward, unmoving, though the next step was clear.
Joust: Well, someone has to see if he's in there.
As Joust spoke, he was already putting a shaky foot onto the first step, but then he was interrupted.
Admiral Zhang: I'll go.
Joust hesitated with his mouth hanging open, desperately considering whether he should protest. In the end, he did not, and Admiral Zhang climbed the stairs and peered inside.
Aire: Admiral, what do you see?
Admiral Zhang: A golden throne. Torches with blue flame. No Aionaptara, as far as I can tell.
At this news, Joust, followed by the others, rushed up the stairs and also gazed inside.
The gold throne and blue flames were the only splashes of color in an otherwise desolate temple. At any moment, Joust expected Aionaptara to appear from around the corner. Or behind him. Joust spun around, but still there was nothing. In silent agreement, the others decided to return to the path, with Joust trying to hide his shaking knees all the way down the stairs.
From there, the path split in two. Directly ahead, a black, dimly lit tower which required a significant climb to reach. To the left, smaller structures, but the land was flat. They decided to take the easy path. Shortly after, Joust saw another branch in the path nearby, one going to an amethyst house and the other to some sort of strange library. To their right was an unassuming, but gleaming white platform on a small hill.
Admiral Zhang stopped, and thus did everyone else, and she looked down to the split in the path, presumably wondering which way they should go. She turned, but before she had a chance to ask what everyone else thought, Aire jerked backward with something dragging on his foot. Unbeknownst to him, and the others, he had his foot half on and half off the wooden path and the sand grabbed him, trying to pull him under.
Aire: Something's got me!
Aire instinctively threw out his arms, but could only grasp at the air. Admiral Zhang was first to grab him, as she was closest and facing him. Joust, close behind, latched onto his free leg while Ryuu and Phobos got his torso. Even with four people pulling, it took all their strength and ingenuity to not only pull Aire out, but also avoid pulling him out in bits. The last of his foot came out in a lurch, sending everyone tumbling to the ground. Joust and the others scrambled to their feet and made double sure that their feet were on the planks where they should be.
Phobos: Are you okay, Captain?
Aire kneeled and brushed at his leg and boot. Not a single grain of sand present, all left behind when his leg came out, as though the sand itself was a single being.
Aire: I'm kind of sore all over, but I think I'm okay.
Ryuu: We should take a break for a few minutes.
Admiral Zhang: Agreed, but stay vigilant.
Rest did not last for long as black clouds materialized in the sky and swirled over over the white slab, low, rumbling thunder emanating within. A lightning bolt exploded from the clouds and Joust jumped back. With a quick check to make sure he was still on the path, he looked back to the slab to find a huge, grey bat sitting on the edge. Aside from being larger than the average bat, his skin was covered in fur and his red eyes glared down at them with a force that made even Admiral Zhang step backward.
If there were any doubt that this was Aionaptara, he unfurled his wings to full span, covering more than thirty feet from tip to tip. If this were an effort at intimidation, it was succeeding brilliantly. For awhile, he did not move and Joust and the rest, too afraid to move or say anything, watched. Slowly, he slid one of his feet into the sand, leaving Joust wondering if it would try to eat him just as it did Aire. Indeed, the sand slithered up his leg, but only just passed his ankle before exploding into a harmless little cloud. Next came the other foot, and the same thing happened. With each step he took toward them, the sand tried to consume him and failed in a little cloudy explosion.
Aionaptara stopped just a few feet in front of them and gazed back and forth at each, taking each one of them in, paying double attention to Joust, whose breathing quickened with each pass of his eyes. As soon as Joust wondered if he should say something, Admiral Zhang spoke.
Admiral Zhang: Greetings. I am Admiral Zhang, commander of the Pola...
Aionaptara's head whipped to Admiral Zhang's direction and he sneered. Her voice stopped. Not that she wasn't still trying to speak. Her lips moved and her chest heaved, but no sound came. She appeared to notice quickly, for she stopped trying to finish her sentence and tried to make a noise, any noise, at all. She could not.
Then came another voice, low and deep as the thunder itself. There could be no mistake that this was Aionaptara, but his mouth did not move. Instead, the sound filled the air and ground all around them, as though the very planet itself were talking to them.
Aionaptara: Hark, thou chattering knave, thy ceaseless prate,
Doth stab mine ears with thine insipid wail.
Henceforth, I pray thee, temper thy loud tongue,
And in stillness find solace for thy noise.
Joust dare not say anything, and this was evidently a shared sentiment with the others, for they did not either. Admiral Zhang was breathing and did not appear in pain. Aire, the one closest to her, shot her a look and a quick head tilt, a non-verbal "Are you okay?" to which Admiral Zhang responded with a nod. Joust did not have time to wonder if Aionaptara might give her voice back, for he now turned his full attention to him.
Aionaptara leaned in close, uncomfortably close, to the shivering Joust. Aionaptara's head passed Joust's to the side, just over his left shoulder, and he took a long, conspicuous sniff before standing upright again, looking down on him with either malice or cuiosity. Joust could not tell which.
Aionaptara: Thou dost emit an aptaran's fair scent,
Pray, hence display thy wings before mine eyes.
Aionaptara waited expectantly, arms folded across his chest. Bit by bit, Joust unfurled his trembling wings, taking several seconds to reach full span.
Aionaptara: From the moment thou intruded my realm,
I deemed thee false, in guise of aptaran.
Yet thine wings, ears, and scent, they do proclaim
Thou art, without a doubt, an aptaran.
I inquire thy name and purpose fair,
And wherefore dost thou don such attire?
Joust's trembling subsided, but only a little, for the mere thought of giving his name and rank filled him with pride. Explaining why he is wearing clothing, however, would be more difficult. He would have to phrase his answer in such a way as to avoid offending this ancient aptaran, who would be unlikely to understand why a bat would wear clothing.
Joust: I am Commander Joust, first officer of the NCCS Shadowdancer, representing the New Carpathia Commonwealth of Planets. My clothing is my uniform. I joined the Exploration Force of my own accord. Shaking up a stodgy hierarchy seemed like a fun game to me and wearing a uniform is one of the rules.
Silence prevailed when Joust finished as Aionaptara pondered his words. Then, he, or rather, the environment around them, spoke again.
Aionaptara: I doth accepteth yond declaration,
Yet cometh, the quest for cosmos be fraught
With peril grievous, danger at every turn.
Aptarans, mine thought deemed extinct, more so
Live amongst thou, aptarans aplenty?
Art thou the sole one, or art thou but one?
Joust: At last census, there were more than four million aptarans where I am from. Very few join the Exploration Force. Most fly free around our land.
Aionaptara's eyes widened as he raised his hand to his ear. He leaned back, as though Joust's words did him an injury.
Aionaptara: How canst this be? No vessel hath, till now,
Borne aptarans unto such distant shores.
How is't that aptarans slipped my sight,
Escape undetected through the expanse?
Joust found a lucky happenstance in this question, for there was opportunity in honesty and he hoped it would pay off.
Joust: Admiral Zhang would be the best to answer that question. If you would be so kind as to restore her voice, she can explain.
Aionaptara took a step back and slowly turned his head to the still mute Admiral Zhang.
Aionaptara: Speak, human. Thou hast my ear. I confess,
Thy scent less foul than those before thee caught.
Long past, I set foot on thy planet's shores,
And whilst thy art and music brought delight,
The company of humans gave me pause.
Pray, hast thou changed in my prolonged absence?
Admiral Zhang took a deep breath while the others watched in rapt anticipation. When she opened her mouth, Joust was gratified that, finally, sound came out.
Admiral Zhang: Thank you, good sir. As Commander Joust said, I shall be happy to answer your questions.
To be continued...
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
