“I thought it was cute,” Reverend Nidus said, leaning back into his chair. “Though, if it were accurate, it would have been revealed that the daemon really was the snail’s soul. Just in a different form. Those animals essentially banished their own friend, just because they didn’t recognize him.”
“No, that’s not how the story goes,” King Hum said, a little agitated. “The daemon was a trickster and a fraud.”
“In your version, perhaps,” Nidus replied. “Though if I had written it, it would have ended differently.”
“With all due respect,” Orram said, a little sarcastically, “you didn’t write it.”
“No,” Nidus said. “But I still have the chance to write a different story. If you’ll excuse me.” He pushed his chair back as he stood up.
No one said a word to try and stop his departure, and he offered nothing more as a farewell.
The Decision
Ethan stirred a little, sensing a presence outside the cloth door. His intuition proved correct when he heard Adviser Orram call to them.
“Ms. Alvarez! Mr. Myler! Are you awake?” the old man asked. His voice had a certain deaf quality to it.
Tera didn’t bother coming to the door. “What is it, Orram?” she shouted back.
The cloth door fluttered a little as the adviser peeked inside. Ethan closed his eyes instinctively as a bit of sunlight hit them.
“The king would like to speak with you,” Orram answered. “If you have the time, come to the palace. He’s come to a decision.”
When they entered through the massive doors, Ethan and Tera found the throne room devoid of life. At least, organic life. Reverend Nidus waited off to the side of the king’s desk, surrounded by an entourage of zealots. Neither the monarch nor his trusted adviser were anywhere to be seen.
Nidus turned to look at the newcomers, his hood wrinkling with the turn of his head. Even though his features were all artificial, they were capable of an intense look of disdain.
“Oh,” the cult leader said, “it’s you.”
“Nidus,” Tera greeted the other bodyshell. “What are you doing here?”
“Same thing you are,” Nidus replied. “Waiting for the good king to grace us with his judgment.”
“Any idea when that will be?” Ethan asked.
The cult leader shrugged, then turned back his followers. He whispered something to them, and all they gave him their attention.
It wasn’t long before the huge doors opened again, revealing King Hum, Adviser Orram, and a small group of Opesian guards. They marched into the room without so much as a nod in greeting. The young monarch took a seat at his desk and waited for his adviser to join him at his side before looking his guests in the eyes.
“Greetings,” he said. “I am pleased that you took the time to meet with me today.”
“Thank you, your grace,” Ethan said, offering the polite bow he had come to know as the standard Opesian sign of respect. Tera emulated the action, but Nidus and his zealots remained still.
“I have given a considerable amount of thought to your issues,” King Hum said. “I am sorry to say that Opes can offer none of you any assistance.”
Tera and Ethan’s faces fell into identical looks of shock. Orram gazed at them with a grim, almost apologetic expression.
“I don’t understand,” Ethan said, a bit of indignation in his tone. “Don’t you understand what they’re doing in Shell City?”
“Of course I do,” the young king replied. “I still cannot help. I’m sorry.”
“You’re abandoning thousands of other humans to the mercy of the Council,” Ethan said. A droplet of tears started filling up his vision. “Millions, even! All of them with spirits that aren’t ready to meet God yet, your grace.”
“I understand,” King Hum said, “but I have to think of my people. The needs of Opes come first. That’s what it means to be a ruler.”
“It won’t stop with Shell City, your grace,” Tera interjected. “If you don’t help us defeat the Council in Shell City, they’ll be coming to your door next. We’re all in this together.”
“That’s conjecture,” King Hum replied. “I cannot and will not move my armies to war on such a hypothetical. My decision is final.”
Ethan was a little red in the face, but managed to keep his mouth shut. Tera hung her head.
King Hum turned to Reverend Nidus, whose posture tensed up at the sudden attention.
“As for you and your cult, you are ordered to leave the kingdom before sundown tomorrow,” the monarch said. His voice didn’t waver as he orated. “My people and I will respect your group’s right to exist, but you are not welcome in Opes. You seem incapable of keeping your religion to yourself and showing us the respect due any host. For that reason, I must ask you to leave.”
Nidus scoffed. “Your grace, doesn’t that seem like a hasty decision?” he asked. “Surely you aren’t threatened by my preachings? If your mysticism is so sound, it should stand against the influence of a mad preacher, should it not?”
“Little insults like that influenced my verdict,” King Hum replied, sneering at the cult leader. “Now I will hear no more from you. You are all dismissed.”
Nidus shook with rage. He raised a mechanical fist, waving it at the young monarch. “This is an outrage!” he bellowed. “I will not stand for this kind of treatment! You will come to regret your decision, young king.”
He made a flourish with his cloak as he turned to leave the throne room. Without another word, the other two guests followed in Nidus’ wake.
Determination
Orram led Ethan and Tera to the small plot of land that had been their autocar’s home for the last few days. There was little to talk about as they made their way out from the main part of Opes. Some of the villagers wished them well as they walked by, and the newcomers gave a bow in turn. Even though they left in defeat, both of them couldn’t help but feel a little sad to go. They came
