185

185
"Here"s your fanged Kaanig!"

With hatred marring his tone, the r"kem and seven of his armed comrades heaved an enormous wooden casket into the crowded interrogation chamber below TrCasinaar, leaving it in the center of the pitch-black room. Then, as though unnerved by the darkness and at thought of their deceased ruler, they dashed from the chamber as if growling hounds of conviction were nipping at their heels.

When the heavy iron door clanged shut, its loud echo reverberating throughout the chamber of many deaths, the terrified palace staff imprisoned there exchanged remarks in varying degrees of dread and incredulity. If their Kaanig was truly dead, something they had only just learned when the casket had been dragged in, then what was to become of them? What an astounding turn of events, to have had Menakam M"yata and his army of miscreants overtake the Palace at TrCasinaar and imprison them all, replacing the Altair"s entire staff with his own diabolical outlaws! And what a catastrophe to learn what fate had befallen the mighty ruler of Valtor!

"I don"t believe it!" one man snarled in the darkness. "With his powers, how could Dammen let hisself get killed?" The man was soon on his feet, informing the disheveled group of loyalists that he was going to see for himself if Kaanig Altair was really dead and in that fanged coffin.

"No, don"t," a woman"s voice objected. "It"s sacrilege, that"s what it is! What would the lady say if we were to prod and poke at her beloved life mate like a bunch of devil-worshipping heathens?"

"Butt out, Mrovia!" the man shot back. For years he had been at the woman"s beck and call, always one rung below the famous mother figure to the Altair. But now they were equals, all in the same mess, and it pleased him to know he had gotten in the last word for once. "All I want to do is make certain it"s Dammen in that box and not someone else!"

"Go ahead, Enif. Check it out. I"m curious myself," another voice urged. "Only have a little respect and don"t prod him overmuch."

"I ain"t no dummy," Enif spat, recognizing the voice of a close comrade. "Ain"t no one got more respect for Kaanig Altair than ol" Enif here." Sniffing as he spoke, Enif shuffled over to the casket and fumbled noisily with the lid. "Watch out, people! There ain"t no hinges on this lid, so I"m gonna shove it to the floor."

The sound of shuffling was heard as a few hastily moved out of harm"s way. Then everyone jumped, their hearts suddenly leaping into their throats, when the heavy lid fell to the floor with a loud, vibrating clump. With bated breaths, the captives listened, waiting for confirmation from Enif. They knew it would be difficult for anyone to discern Dammen"s features in the blackened room for the Kaanig resembled many Valtorian males. Fortunately, there were other distinguishing traits that set Dammen well above other men, one being the unique, diamond-shaped mole on the bottom of his right foot, a characteristic that most citizens were familiar with. It was also common knowledge that Dammen sometimes wore a similar-shaped medallion as proof of his royalty for it had been in his family for generations. Having been given the mark as an identifying factor for the Altair family, from the Source they all served, the Altair males also passed the symbol on to their women when they joined with their chosen life mates. It was the mark that Casina now wore.

A loud howl rent the air, unnerving the apprehensive group.

"Enif?" someone asked.

"I—It"s him," the servant managed, his voice hoarse. "I know it." "You"re certain?" Mrovia piped up.

"There can be no other like him in this galaxy, I"m certain," Enif sniffed loudly, thankful for the privacy afforded him by the darkness. "He"s got a mark on his right wrist."

Wanting further reassurance, Mrovia rose clumsily from the floor. "Hold on. I"m coming over," she said. She ambled slowly towards Enif, her feet scuffling as she made to feel her way safely to the casket. Each step was measured and cautious as she had no desire to trip over somebody who might be sitting cross-legged on the floor. Those sitting close were careful to move out of her way.



As Mrovia"s hands came in contact with the splintered box, her anxiety grew. Noiselessly, she slid one hand, unhindered, into the casket, dreading the unknown. Her hand shook, and she felt the skin crawling on the back of her neck. "Are you still here, Enif?" she asked, groping for his hand in the dark. "This whole thing gives me the creeps."

"I"m here," he assured her, with gentle understanding. "Don"t worry."

"Who"s worried?" Mrovia snapped, embarrassed at showing weakness before an inferior. "I…I just wanted to know if—oh, never mind!" She pulled her hand away in disgust. More nervous now, she went full steam ahead and boldly stuck her entire hand deep inside the large, wooden box and ran trembling, tentative fingers over Dammen"s inert form. Then, just as she was about to profess confirmation, a loud gasp of terror erupted from her lips, and she yanked her hand from the box.

"What"s wrong?" a dozen voices chimed in unison.

Mrovia stepped back in a panic and ran a nervous tongue over her dry lips. "His…That is, his lordship"s…"

"His what?" Enif demanded with impatience, growing more unsettled. "What"s the matter with you, woman?"

"His…skin is still…warm."

Her voice was slow and faltering, but there was a spark of hope in her tone that was conveyed to those around her. Brightening, she was quick to usher Enif away from Dammen"s resting place.

"He didn"t feel warm when I touched him," Enif protested sarcastically, thinking the older woman daft. "Are you sure he –"

"He"s alive, you idiot! Don"t you understand? Alive!"

"Maybe it"s blood," someone else suggested. "Perhaps he hasn"t been dead all that long."

"Shut up, all of you!" Mrovia spat in fury. "I know Uri, and I say he"s still alive!"

"Aw, just because you"re his…" The man voicing the snide remark cut himself short at sight of the soft glow beginning to appear from within the casket. "Look, everybody! Do you see?"

"Get down, everyone!" someone else shouted. "And for pity"s sake, stay away from there!"

All talking instantly ceased as the palace staff watched the spectacle unfolding before their eyes. The glow increased in magnitude, leaving no doubt in any of their minds as to what was happening. Sclairs later, they were horrified by the ear-blasting sound of wood cracking as the four sides of Dammen"s coffin blew apart with a tremendous, supernatural force.