Seeker's Reach by Allen Kuzara

Author:Allen Kuzara [Kuzara, Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

“BRING HIM HERE,” Eleazar said from his throne.

Mikel retreated from the entrance to the room and motioned for the prisoner to be brought forward. The two Seeker soldiers escorted the thin bald man into the crystalline chamber. As they did, Mikel noticed that Eleazar had made changes to the room, adding tapestries to the walls, bringing it closer in appearance to the throne room he’d had for millennia.

“The prisoner’s name is Howard Dault,” Mikel announced.

The Seekers brought him to the steps at the base of Eleazar’s throne. Dault’s arms were tied behind his back. They shoved him forward, making him collapse to his knees.

“It’s Minister Howard Dault,” he corrected. “And is this all necessary?”

Eleazar had seemed distant, bored even. But this surprising behavior from Dault stimulated him. A slow smile spread across his face as he answered, “No, I suppose not.”

Eleazar twitched his finger, and instantly the bonds behind Dault’s back fell to the ground, releasing him. Dault rubbed his sore wrists and began to stand up. As soon as he did, the Seeker soldiers ran toward him with the intention of protecting their Sovereign.

Eleazar lifted his hand, stopping them. “You may leave,” he told them.

Mikel stayed at the doorway as he’d been taught to do. Assuming wasn’t allowed. Only explicit instructions were to be followed, and he had not been dismissed as the soldiers had been.

“Ah, thank you,” Dault said, putting his hands beside him and standing fully erect. The sound of his voice was of one who was Eleazar’s equal, not a quivering, fearful prisoner of war.

“Thank you for allowing me this honor,” Dault continued. “As I understand it, you have not permitted an audience like this before, and it is truly appreciated; I can promise you that.”

Eleazar’s smile grew, showing his teeth. “What can I do for you, Minister?” Eleazar seemed to taste the words as he spoke them slowly.

“Well, as you are keenly aware,” Dault began, clearly not struggling for words, “we have been at war.”

“Is that what you call it?” Eleazar asked, his eyebrow scrunching down below his blindfold.

“We are in conflict,” Dault adjusted. “It has come to my attention that both sides of this struggle have been silent. We have not expressed our clear intentions, only assuming the position of our adversary, and never explicitly investigating what the wants, needs, goals, etc. of the other party are.”

“Not so,” Eleazar said, without sounding offended or even surprised. “It is customary for every Seeker, at the beginning of each new wave, to announce himself and his intentions.”

“That may be,” Dault said, placing his hands in his pockets and beginning to slowly pace.

Mikel felt alarmed; the move seemed so casual as to be threatening in its own way. Mikel reassured himself, remembering that Dault had indeed been thoroughly searched upon capture and that there couldn’t be any weapons in his pockets.

“But I highly suspect that we,”—Dault removed both hands from his pockets and pointed them toward his chest—“do not grasp the intended meaning of said words. We can only assume meaning without the opportunity for further discussion.

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