After he was gone, the Cancellarrii beheld his office. The door behind his desk led to his personal quarters. As the Erőd was originally a palace of the Chokka, the building was laced with housing. Many of the rooms had been converted to offices but the senior members of the Klopph lived in the Erőd. The Klopph were forbidden to have families or even relationships (there was always an abundance of women that were available for the mortal needs of the Klopph). The Klopph grew their numbers through recruitment at a young age and their lives were completely dedicated to the service of the Keeper. Most of the Klopph kept homes in the various Quarters of the city depending on their assignment.
He checked the notes on his desk to make sure there was nothing he needed to do before retiring for the evening and found there was nothing that could not wait until the morning. He rose from his chair and stretched off the long day before entering his living quarters. Inside was the finest of everything. Anything he wanted, the Keeper provided for him.
The Cancellarrii had been in the service of the Keeper for over thirty years. He was there in the beginning to help organize the Klopph for the Keeper. It was he who led the Klopph against the army of the Chokka. He was the Keeper’s most trusted advisor.
He read as he ate his dinner. After about an hour of reading, he set his book down, took his plate and glass into the kitchen, and retired to his bedroom. He knew the next few days would be long as they searched for the missing Chokka. It was earlier than he was used to going to bed but he knew his body would thank him for it the next day.
Once under his sheet, he closed his eyes but found he couldn’t sleep. Determined not to give up, he concentrated on falling asleep, attempting to hypnotize himself so that his mind would shut down, allowing him to sleep but it didn’t work. Something was bothering him.
For a long time he stared at the ceiling in the dark room, trying to define the gnawing in his gut. Something about someone from the past. He recalled hearing of a scientist many years ago who was working on energy patterns – on a way to control them. Who was this scientist? His mind wouldn’t allow him to grasp the name. The Ministry of Science came to mind.
He felt sleep staring to come over him and was grateful. Slowly he started to slip away. Then, the face came to him.
He opened his eyes. The scientist worked for the Chokka. His memory had served him well – it was the Minister of Science. The Minister was killed during the takeover by the Keeper but the Cancellarrii had questioned him before he was killed. He had mentioned a son that died.
That got him thinking. How did he say he died? He couldn’t remember.
The Cancellarrii filed these thoughts away. In the morning he would dig deeper. See what he could find out about what had happened to his son.
With that, the Cancellarrii drifted to sleep as he prepared his body and mind for a new day.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Babel excused himself from the table filled with empty plates of what had been noodles and broth. Babel was not entirely sure of what the broth consisted. It had a flavor unlike anything he had tasted before but overall the meal was one of the best he’d had.
He took his plate to the kitchen before attending to the restroom. “I’m so glad they have toilets here.”
While he was washing his hands, he stopped to check the mirror to make sure there was no food in his teeth. What he saw in the mirror what not what he anticipated. His face seemed to be many colors and none – just like the people of that world.
He stared at himself for quite some time. It must have been longer than he realized as he heard a knock on the door. “Babel, are you okay?” It was Triana.
At first he didn’t answer and she knocked again and repeated the question. He pulled his eyes away from the mirror and towards the door. He forced an answer. “I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Okay. You’ve been in there for a while. I was getting worried about you.”
“Thanks. I’m fine.”
He followed her footsteps as they receded. He looked in the mirror once more before exiting to return to the table. Everyone was trying not to look at him, instead focusing on the dessert and coffee that was being laid out by Abby.
After dinner, Babel followed Quentin to his study. The house had less of the unusual lines and curves present in Triana’s apartment but was still strange. Quentin’s study on the other hand, seemed like any other study in which he had ever been. In fact, the décor was similar to what he would have picked out himself.
“Nice room.” Babel commented.
“Thanks. This is where I can come and think.”
“This room is different than the others.”
“Do you mean the design of the room?” Babel nodded his head. “This house is very old. There are many features in this house, some of which I hope I never have to show you.”
“Features…?”
“For example,” Quentin said, waving his hand over a section of the wall, “behind this wall is an item that places a protective barrier around the house. I currently have the barrier set.”
“What do you need a barrier for?”
“The barrier blocks energy readings.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They can track you.”
“They…?”
“The Klopph. They have a device that tracks your energy.”
Babel looked at Quentin alarmed. “How…? They could come
