Chapter 593 - Day MMCXLI, Part V

- He will see you - she suddenly notified me. -  Ashal Kal Anur agreed to the meeting.

I was taken by surprise that my request reached him this quick.

- Ok - I said. - Where should I go? Or is he coming here?

- Please follow me - she said to that, and immediately moved towards the door.

I followed her. We got out of my room and actually had to go back to the hall where we originally boarded the ship. We passed by a few aliens, but no humans on our way.

Looking at the cross formed with the rugs on the floor, my room was on the left side, and where she was taking me was the front.

Besides the two of us that space was completely empty. I couldn't help but keep looking around, as everything there was kinda new to me. She on the other hand was walking forward with intent, only looking at what was ahead.

We entered a new corridor, and despite many dors on both sides, we continued going further and further, until we reached a T-section with a door in front of us. She stopped then, stepped a bit back to make space for me, and gestured towards the entrance with her hand while bowing slightly.

-  Ashal Kal Anur expects you - I was informed.

I moved forward and both wings of the metal barrier blocking the way slid to the sides revealing a gargantuan chamber. The ceiling was incredibly tall with chandeliers hanging around. They were very strange. Basically giant crystals with many smaller ones circling them around. Looking a bit closely made me realize that those were not chained to the ceiling at all, and were just levitating and providing light.

The flor was covered by an enormous blue rug with golden patterns at the edges, and the middle of the hall filled tables and chairs prepared for a giant fest, although now empty. A bit further, almost on the other side, was a slight elevation with a sofa placed on it. And that was where he was waiting, Ashal Kal Anur.

He was laying on his side with something displayed in the air in front of him, and slowly eating some small fruits from a golden bowl that was just drifting in the air. He didn't seem to notice us, so I sighed and started moving closer. Sor didn't follow me, and she remained by the entrance.

- You wished to meet me - said a synthesized, machine-like voice when I managed to almost reach the elevation.

At the same moment the projection in front of him vanished, and the bowl drifted away, so he could actually sit down.

- Yes - I said. - I have a few matters that keep me... Let's say 'intrigued'.

- Very well. Tell me about them.

- Why didn't you stop the tournament when Boris was wining? You saw that Zor'xal couldn't win with us with what he had prepared. You could have saved a great person. You even gave the emperor a grand speech about how much of a failure he is, and yet you allowed that to go further. 

I wanted also to point out the albino Sabhetani appearance as the main reason for him finally doing something, but I was afraid I might end up antagonizing him before we even became part of the Ixan empire. It just felt like a wrong move, despite the fact that I really wanted to shove it down his throat. 

- He was embarrassing the empire, but at that point, I still believed he could clear it all if I put him on the spot. That was the main reason for my speech. Not because you or your friend Boris convinced me to lean towards your side, although I started liking that man. He had manners.

He said and paused for a second. I even opened my mouth to continue our conversation, but then he cut me off by speaking again:

- I know what you want to ask about, but you didn't, because you are afraid of antagonizing me. The creature you saw was indeed the main reason, but I won't talk about it. I will only say that you should forget about it ever happening. This is something that not only does not involve you or your people but also could cause you trouble. The trouble you don't want to have. Consider it a friendly warning, because throughout the course of the tournament I really started liking your people. Especially the man named Will.

I needed a second to digest what he told me. He was halfway blunt, halfway simply refused to talk. Something that I kinda appreciated. It made me question why I really came there in the first place. To learn the truth? Or may to find a scapegoat to blame for Boris's death, as I did with Katri Xel Avakadaisu before.

My silence made him speak again.

- You also caught my attention. I saw your match on earth with the other human, Gavriil Semenov. It made me want to see you there, on Dispur, but you never came out. Why?

- To be honest... Right now I don't know. We made this strategy, to use our forces wisely, since we didn't have infinite resources like Zor'xal, but now... I regret it. I could have saved so many people.

- It wasn't a bad decision. He indeed had almost infinite resources and could drag this for even years. That actually was his strategy, which led me to reprimand him. During big changes sacrifices are a given. You should be happy that in this case, it was just two people.

- I don't feel this way...

He smiled at me.

- Why do you try to put the weight of everything on your shoulders? This planet doesn't even belong to you. You are just one of many.

- Maybe I have a savior complex - I shrugged my shoulders. - Anyway... Thanks for the talks. You helped me clear my mind.

- Good. You will need it when you meet the queen. She is... Spectacular - he said with an even bigger smile.

At that point, I didn't understand what he had in mind. For me, the High Queen Ixa was like somebody from old legends, not quite real. I couldn't understand why all of those aliens were speaking so highly about her. She was almost like a god to them.

- Ok - I said. - I'm gonna go now, and not waste anymore of your time.

I said and left.. He watched me all the way until I reached the door.