CHAPTER SEVEN
"Velika, do you have the time?"
The Po-Matoran turned his wistful gaze to Dezalk, who stood in the entrance to his hut. "Time is something which we always have but can never keep."
Dezalk sighed exasperatedly. "Is that a yes?"
Velika only smiled.
"Okay, whatever." The Ta-Matoran stepped into the hut, looking behind him to make sure no one was close enough to hear what he had to say. "I'm worried about Garan and the others."
"We all are," Velika murmured. Dezalk was almost startled by him speaking in something that wasn't a riddle, but decided not to dwell on the matter.
"I just spoke with Dasan," the Matoran of Fire went on. "I suggested that we commence a search party, but he refused, saying that he didn't want to lose any more villagers. In fact, he's forbidding anyone from leaving."
Velika nodded solemnly. "Subdue the Muaka and you save your life. Tighten a leash around it, and you endanger the Muaka's life."
"You're right, that's exactly what's going on. We're going to need food and supplied from elsewhere on the island eventually; we might as well search for Garan and the others while we're at it."
"Will it be easy to leave the village?" Velika asked.
Dezalk shook his head. "I doubt it. Dasan isn't stupid; he will have placed sentries all around the village."
The Po-Matoran smiled again. "Even a Kane-Ra needs to sleep. And even a Kikanalo can move as quiet as night."
Dezalk smirked. "I like your optimism, but we have to think realistically. I know some Matoran being able to go all night without needing to sleep."
Velika's smile broadened. "Then find the odd Bula berry out of the batch."
* * *
Oren stifled a yawn as he stood on the outskirts of the Matoran Cliff Village. Night had fallen over Voya Nui and most of the villagers had gone to bed, save for him and seven others chosen by Dasan to serve as sentries. He was really starting to envy those who were in their comfortable cots, listening to the crickets chirping....
"Stay focused, Oren."
Snapped out of the doze he was falling into, Oren glanced at his Ga-Matoran partner, ever vigilant.
"I am focused," he said indignantly.
"That's not what your mask is showing," Ceras said curtly. "By the way, it's crooked."
Mumbling to himself, Oren straightened his teal Kanohi Miru... and stopped when he saw something moving up ahead. He squinted his eyes but could not make out what it was. He pointed this out to Ceras, who frowned in consternation.
"I'll go check it out," she said. "You stay here, and don't fall asleep."
Oren rolled his eyes while the Ga-Matoran left her position. Not long after, a Ko-Matoran came up next to him.
"Kazi? Why are you up?"
The Matoran of Ice shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. Go ahead and get some shut-eye yourself, I'll fill in for you."
The Bo-Matoran beamed as he gave Kazi his spear. "Thanks. I owe you one."
He could have sworn he saw the hint of a smile on the usually-stoic Matoran's face, but he shrugged it off, figuring the night was making him see things.
Once Oren was gone, Kazi turned to see Ceras returning.
"Dezalk and Velika are ready," she said. "Shall we head off?"
Kazi nodded. "Yes. And thank you, Ceras, for agreeing to help us."
She smiled. "Hey, anything for a fellow villager. Or six."
* * *
Helryx grimaced as she watched the giant waterfall pour from the sky and into the chasm where a good portion of the Southern Continent had once been. In her career as a Toa and leader of the Order of Mata Nui, she had encountered several strange things... but nothing like this.
Standing with her were Order agents Viraka, Botar, and Orkosan; all three of them looked equally bemused by the sight. Hovering a few feet over the ground, flapping her wings, Viraka looked up towards the sky.
"Do you think the piece of land was destroyed?"
Helryx shook her head. "The Mask of Life was on that piece of land. If it was destroyed, we wouldn't be here."
"Where could it be then?" Orkosan asked.
"Only one way to find out." Helryx turned to look up at Botar, who instantly knew what to do. The Saevta joined hands with the other three and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
* * *
Banteras, Fortaan, and Tansari stood outside the invisible Castle Artakha, looking out towards the Voya Nui Bay. In it, a whirlpool was beginning to form, spinning more violently each minute.
"Just like King Mathus foretold," Fortaan said gruffly. "I hope he'll be happy to see us. Who know what delusions he's formed while in the Pit."
"A hundred thousand years is a long time," Tansari said. "Who can say?"
Suddenly, as the whirlpool grew even more violent, a shape shot out of the ocean, bringing with it an eruption of water. It then gracefully landed on the ground and the three beings immediately knelt before him.
Covered in black and gunmetal gray armor, Mallake loomed over them at nine feet tall. Red eyes glowed behind a rusted mask and the pair of horns on the back of his head gleamed in the sunlight. When he spoke, his voice grated with the wisdom and age of a hundred millennia.
"Rise, my friends."
"My liege," Tansari murmured. "We have been waiting so long for your return. King Mathus foretold that--"
"King, you say?" Venom dripped in Mallake's tone. "Not for long. Where can I find him?"
"At Castle Artakha," Banteras said. "We have the Kanohi Olmak. Everything is ready."
"Not yet," Mallake hissed. "Not until the throne is mine again."
"Of course, my liege," Tansari said quietly. "I'm sure Mathus will gladly relinquish it to you."
"He will regardless. For there can only be one."
And in an instant, Mallake and his three followers were on their back to the invisible castle....
No comments:
Post a Comment