The Brotherhood - 17. Chapter 17

The Brotherhood

Chapter XVII

By X

I sat down at Q’s desk, not knowing what to expect. How exactly was this going to work? Were there home movies involved? Maybe slides? God, anything but slides. The mere thought brought back horrible memories of sitting in the cellar with my grandfather, watching his life flash before my eyes on the projector. As those thoughts crossed my mind, Q chuckled behind me. I turned to look at him with narrow, dagger-like eyes, wondering about the impossible.

“Care for water?” he asked.

“Sure.”

I studied every mundane move Q made as he pulled bottled water and green apple from the mini-frig. He tossed me the water.

My eyes narrowed. “Are you reading my mind right now?” It wasn’t so much a question as it was an accusation.

Q walked over and placed both of his hands on the arms of my chair. “You’re cute when you’re snarly.” My lips parted, but his kiss silenced any protest I hoped to make. It was slow and deep with a fiery passion that scorched my lips. I was more than happy to return the favor. “I’ve wanted to do that all night.” His lips brushed mine as he spoke. “Given all that’s happened tonight, I hope I didn’t overstep.”

He pulled away and stood before me in nothing more than a pair of white shorts. They had “TBH” written down the left leg and showed just enough of his boxer briefs to drive me nuts. To add fuel to the fire, the curtains were open just enough for his body to soak up the light from the full moon. How he managed such a heavenly glow while still in human form was beyond me.

“Overstep?” I said with a smile. “Where else would your lips belong if not on mine?” My hands were on his bare chest in a blink of an eye; my lips were pressed against his in half that time. I kept pushing him back as we kissed until we finally collapsed on this bed; the apple rolled from his hand and stopped between the pillows. His body pressed against mine felt terrific. I particularly enjoyed how he pretended to struggle while I pinned his hands over his head. Q could’ve flipped me off like a ragdoll if he wanted, but he let me have my triumphant moment.

My assault on his lips turned into small pecks until my lips were just whiskers away from his, and we stared deeply into each other’s eyes. There was a glimmer in those gray pools, but like before, I wasn’t sure if it was just the moonlight or something he did purposely. I leaned back and straddled his lap while slowly tracing my finger down his chest. It wasn’t long before his hands snaked their way up to my thighs.

Q looked so good lying under me. I wanted to devour him; the excitement in my pants made that clear, but that would have to wait for another time.

With a heavy sigh, I rolled off Q. I punched him lightly in the stomach and plopped beside him. With my head propped on my left hand, I shoved the right one down my pants to adjust.

“Do you see what you do to me?”

“Hey, don’t get mad at me. You’re the one who stopped.” He reached for his apple and took a bite.

My vicious glare didn’t faze Q. “You know exactly why I stopped. You promised answers. Don’t think you can seduce your way out of it now.”

“Who’s seducing?” Q laughed.

“Right,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Because greeting me half-naked in flimsy shorts is your way of telling me you were on your way to church.”

Q laughed and took another bite of his apple. A comfortable silence fell between us. I stared at him, and he looked up at the ceiling. Was he collecting his thoughts? What does a god among men think about? Was I wrong to think of him in such a way?

“You know, I’ve explained our origins to the pledges many times, yet I never quite know where to begin.”

“You…speechless? Shocking.”

He backhanded me across my stomach with a smile creeping across his face. “Being a smartass doesn’t help.”

“Yeah, but it’s fun.”

“Why don’t we start by having you ask three questions? They can be about anything over the last few weeks.”

“Why only three?”

“Control,” Q said with a grin and a wink. “I am who I am, after all. But because I like you, I’ll give you one for free. To answer your previous question, yes, I can read thoughts. More accurately, all El’odian can read human thoughts to some degree.”

He was going to say something more, but his words trailed off. Instead, he grasped my forearm and gently caressed it. “I know what you would ask of me, Jacob, but I’m afraid I can’t give it to you.” A shadow of regret enveloped the shimmer in his eyes. “I’m truly sorry.”

I shot up like a bullet and sat on the very edge of the bed. My heart raced, my face flushed, and my stomach soured. “I don’t know what you mean.” My awkward tone betrayed my words.

“Jacob,” Q whispered as his hand moved to my shoulder. “I would love nothing more than to reach into the deepest recesses of your mind and give you back those lost years. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. We learned the hard way that humans cannot survive such an intrusion into their thoughts. Therefore, we only read what’s on the surface.”

Shrugging his hand from my shoulder, I rose and moved to the bookcase. I pressed my palms against my damp eyes and swallowed hard. My back remained to Q. “So three questions, huh?” I grabbed the chalice and held it over my head. I didn’t want him to see my face. “What was this all about? Was I drinking poison, or was it all bullshit?”

The dream of uncovering my past had faded long ago. Yet, in that brief moment, I allowed hope to creep back into my heart. It was quick and stupid and surprisingly painful.

“No, it was quite real,” he answered.

The bed betrayed nothing of his departure. So I jumped slightly when his arms coiled around my waist, the apple still in hand. His tender lips on the nape of my neck brought a smile to my face. “It’s something we developed a long time ago. His lips brushed against my neck as he spoke each word…dancing, tingling, and teasing my flesh.

Somehow my body managed to shiver and warm at the same time.

Q let out the slightest of smiles. I know this not because I could see him. I know it because I could feel his lips curl upwards against the sensitive skin of my neck.

“It marks you with a faint aura that only we can see. It allows the other Nave to identify you as a pledge.”

I laughed. “Seems kind of medieval considering the things I’ve seen you do…your power.”

“True. But there’s a reason for our medieval ways. There was a time we used our power to mark humans with the Light. Unfortunately, the strongest of the Skai could peer thru the veil and pick out our human Brothers just as we were able to pick out theirs. Both sides had to dumb it down. This formula has worked for hundreds of years.”

He kissed me again and led me onto the balcony. The subject of my lost memory was dropped. I was glad. Not only to move away from the pain it caused but also to get through it without having to confirm or deny I still wanted answers.

The cool breeze felt terrific on my warm face.

With his back against the open sky, Q leaned against the stone railing and took another bite of his apple. I snatched it from him, sat on one of the chairs, and bit down.

It was tart and surprisingly satisfying. I took another bite, more significant this time, and then examined it as if it were something foreign.

“Do you eat?” I asked, still chewing. “I mean, I’ve seen you guys eat these green apples before, but that’s all I’ve ever seen you eat.”

I was about to take another bite when Q opened his hand, and the apple flew back into his palm as if attached to a spring.

“Hey!”

“We can but generally don’t. Food holds no benefit for us. And yet, we love the taste of green apples.” He shrugged. “Don’t ask me why. It’s a mystery even I have yet to solve.”

He finished the fruit and tossed the remains directly at me. I flinched in anticipation of it connecting with my head, but it disintegrated in a flash of light.

“Not funny.”

He laughed. “You have a question left. Is there anything else you want to know before I begin?”

At first, I couldn’t think of anything; truthfully, I was anxious to hear his story. But then something popped into my head. “What’s the deal with this crazy house?”

“What do you mean exactly?”

“The other night, I could’ve sworn rooms and hallways were appearing and disappearing randomly while walking around. Was that just my imagination or what?”

“Are you referring to the night you were left in the house alone with Dylan?”

I nodded.

“The house tends to get a mind of its own if there isn’t a Nave around to control it. From the outside, the house looks normal enough and never changes, but the inside is a different story. The space within these walls is infinitely vast. With a single thought, the house can create hundreds of corridors and thousands of rooms. Such is the case with every house within The Brotherhood.” It was funny…no, surreal…listening to him talk about the house. The house was alive, yet he described it as casually as a realtor pointing out walk-in closets and ceramic tile.

“Speaking of which,” he continued, “you can move from house to house by using the golden mirror you saw that night. Do you know which one I’m talking about?”

“Oh yeah...” How humbling. I guess my spy skills aren’t as refined as I thought. The Brothers knew of my explorations all along. “Tell me something. Was there ever a time you guys didn’t know what we were doing?”

Q shook his head.

“Okay, that’s a bit disturbing; I’m not going to lie.”

“You say that now, but once you’re on the other side, you’ll see why it’s necessary and very amusing.”

“I see your point.” I loved that idea. “Just another reason why I’m glad pledging is over.”

“Not as much as we are, trust me.”

“Why? It’s not like you guys had to do anything but boss us around all day. I can see how taxing that can be. Oh, wait, actually…no…no, I can’t.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Q rolled his eyes as if the Brother’s plight was so prominent a blind man could see it. “The Nave go on lockdown during pledging as far as our powers are concerned. Suddenly we have to walk across a room to pick something up or drive for hours to get somewhere when normally a thought would be enough. But we can’t do what comes naturally to us for fear of exposure. You have no idea how many close calls there were.”

“Oh, how you guys suffered.” Now I was the one rolling my eyes. “You should start a telethon or something so you can bring your suffering into the light. Maybe get FEMA involved.”

“Shut up.”

“The Red Cross, perhaps?”

“Are you done?” He feigned annoyance. “I think I’ve answered enough of your questions. Can I start now, or do you want to mock me more?”

“Hmmm.” I looked at the sky for a moment as if considering my options. “Yes and yes.” Q took one step toward me, and I threw my hands up in surrender. “I’m kidding; I’m kidding! Go ahead.”

Now it was Q gazing up at the stars. If I had to guess, he was gathering his thoughts before opening his world to me. Of course, he may have simply been looking for the Big Dipper. He took a deep breath and then looked at me with loving eyes. “Our history…”

“Maybe the Salvation Army will take up your cause.”

“That’s it!” Q declared.

I roared with laughter and bolted into his bedroom, shutting the balcony door before he could catch me. I stopped at the foot of his bed and turned to goad him. He was nowhere in sight. I turned around, and he wasn’t there. I was certain Q would be standing in front of me. That’s how it always happened in the movies. This is the scene where he’s supposed to appear out of thin air and scare the shit out of me. Nope, not this time.

I stood there for a moment scratching the back of my head and feeling more than a bit silly. I returned to the balcony door and found him exactly where I left him, leaning on the stone railing, looking at me thru the glass.

“Sorry,” I said as I stepped onto the balcony and took my seat.

“Are you done?” he asked with a chill in his voice that made me feel like a small, scolded child. “Or do you have more stuff you need to get out of your system before I start?”

“No, I’m good,” I nodded and smiled awkwardly.

“At the heart of most stories concerning origin and creation, you’ll undoubtedly find some vengeful, jealous and petty gods. Ra and his band of misfits for the ancient Egyptians, the Persians had Ahura Mazda, the Jade-Emperor was the Supreme God of the Chinese, and of course, the Christians have had plain ol’ God on their side since the beginning of time. Not a very imaginative bunch, I might add, the Christians, they could have at least given their God a cool name like the others.

“Oh well…

“Our beginning is no different than the others except for one minor exception. Our Gods were real.”

Even for someone who isn’t a religious nut, I admit I found his opening just a little bit insulting. However, now did not seem like the appropriate moment to bring it up.

“These weren’t beings that existed only in unconfirmed visions. There are no mysterious texts passed down thru the ages for the masses to follow blindly. We do not have to subscribe to the ridiculous notion of faith to fuel unsubstantiated beliefs. No, our Gods spoke to us. They sometimes walked among us to revel in the fruits of their divine genius. They were verifiable.”

Q laughed a soft bitter laugh.

“The motive behind the creation of the races, though godlike in its execution, was anything but noble or divine.

“The Gods Naveyk and Skailer, along with the Goddess Aal’ee, make up the El’odian trifecta. Born from the same fires that ignited the universe into being, these Gods traveled the cosmos for eons. At first, they were nothing more than a mass of pure energy surviving on instinct. Fast forward some ten billion years, and the mass evolved into a consciousness that eventually broke apart and formed three unique and self-aware beings. Their thoughts were their own, and they felt the spark of emotion and sensation for the first time. This was new, and to energy billions of years old, ‘new’ was beyond rare and something to be coveted. ‘Feeling,’ whether it be a sensation or emotion, was the ultimate drug. It was ‘new’ to the nth degree. It was all-encompassing, empowering, and all-consuming.

“The Gods were alive and euphoric. They reveled in this new awareness.

“That’s when everything changed.

“The Gods said when Aal’ee took her corporal form; the universe wept at her sight. She was the pinnacle of perfection. Naveyk and Skailer fell utterly and madly in love with Aal’ee. Yet as much as she cared for them, she could not bring herself to choose between the two. Ultimately, their unyielding love for her turned them against each other and locked them in a world of jealousy and hatred.

“Determined to prove themselves the better God, they engaged in fierce and lengthy battles that set the cosmos ablaze and saw the birth and death of countless stars. And through it, Aal’ee marveled at the attention they lavished on her. She was the center of their universe for eons, the coveted prize they fought so vigorously to attain. In the end, one could not best the other. As much as they hated the idea, they had to come to terms with the fact that they were equals in every way. For a time, and to the dismay of Aal’ee, they put an end to their fighting. However, their love for her never waned.

“Eventually, their travels brought them to earth, or as we call it, Eiyr. There was nothing special about this place. It was just another planet in a long list of places they visited, but the final battle would be fought on this planet. Here, Naveyk and Skailer let fate decide who would ultimately win Aal’ee’s love.

“No one knows who came up with the idea, but knowing they would stalemate each other for eternity, they decided to create an army to fight the battle for them. The objective was simple: the destruction of the enemy. The army left standing would be declared the victor, and their creator would claim Aal’ee as his trophy. The loser would be banished to the universe’s far reaches, never to be seen again.

“Sealing their pact before the eyes of their beloved, the Gods went their separate ways to create the perfect killing machine. Skailer dove deep into the dark, fiery pits of this world, and from flame and shadow, he created the Skai and the city of Asevaya. The heavens would be the birthplace of the Nave. Naveyk took to the sky, and from his flesh, our floating city of Aquaiia was created, and the Nave was born from his divine light and grace.”

I sat like a child in front of a skilled storyteller, wide-eyed and anxious for the next adventure. It was like listening to a good fantasy novel or learning about the mythology of some forgotten, ancient culture. But this wasn’t make-believe. This was very real to him and now to me. It was all beyond amazing.

“So that’s how you came to be?” I asked. “This Naveyk guy snaps his fingers, and there you are? That’s fucking unreal!”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. That’s how my people came to be. But if you’re referring to me personally, then no. I did not come along for quite some time.”

I nodded and waited for him to continue.

“Although both Naveyk and Skailer agreed only to create 33,000 warriors each, only 33 Nave were created that day. They were all around your age in appearance, except one…K’tas. He was older, much like a father figure, but equally capable as the others. It was he the others turned to for guidance.”

Q stopped for a moment and turned to look out into the yard. I got up and stood next to him. Folding my arms on the stone railing, I leaned a little forward to catch the wind in my hair and caught sight of the little smile playing on Q’s lips. He looked rather cute.

“We were much like you back in those days, flesh and blood, I mean…mortal. It was one of the rules Naveyk and Skailer agreed upon. After all, it would’ve been pointless to create a race of immortal beings to wage war against each other. The whole point was for one side to slaughter the other. But that’s not to say the Gods didn’t find ways to bend the rules without completely breaking them.”

“How exactly?” I interrupted, knowing he’d explain this all in due time. The look he gave me confirmed as much.

“For starters, we lived about three to four times longer than humans do today. We were highly resistant to illness and diseases, not to mention we possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities. Broken bone and flesh are mended in hours rather than days or weeks. Aside from that, the Nave looked like humans do today. Oh, there was one other minor difference.”

Q stopped and backed away from the railing without saying anything. I just stared at him, wondering what was supposed to happen next, and when he didn’t do anything, I finally felt compelled to say something.

“Are you going to tell me, or am I supposed to guess?”

In a blink of an eye and a flash of brilliant light, Q’s wings appeared to flap behind him until he arched them upward in a sort of horseshoe shape. They were like beacons of light illuminating the balcony and everything around it. I felt like I was swimming in his radiance.

“We had wings,” he said. “And they were permanent back then, at least initially. We didn’t have the powers we do now to make them appear and disappear at will.” And with that, Q flapped his wings one last time and made them vanish in a swirl of light.

“So cool…” I whispered.

Q smiled and took up his original position on the balcony. “We also didn’t have to drag our knuckles on the ground waiting for evolution to take its course. The Gods’ knowledge was as vast as an ocean, and we were created with a mere drop of that knowledge. That may not seem like a lot, but that day’s Nave could make the Harvard graduate of today look as smart as a fifth-grader.” He paused for a moment. “And they were beautiful.”

“And modest,” I laughed.

“Don’t get me wrong. This is not conceit or arrogance, at least not on our part. The gods’ vanity would not allow anything but perfection when they created us. We were made in their image, and Naveyk and Skailer had to create beings worthy of Aal’ee’s grace.”

“Oh, so that’s why all you guys look like you stepped out of an underwear ad,” I said.

“To be an El’odian or receive our gift is to be born of their beauty.”

“So if I were the ugliest, most disgusting person on the planet, you could make me….”

“Look like you walked out of an underwear ad,” Q interjected. “But that’s not important in the grand scheme of things. What is important is how those first 33 Nave began to build our society. At first, they lived in the woods of the floating island, safe from the dangers of the wildlife on the surface, eating and foraging from the various fruits Naveyk provided for them.

“Within a few weeks of their creation, the 33 learned how to make tools from wood and stone and erected huts made of straw and timber. Before long, our first village was born. And during this time, the 33 knew they would not be alone for long, so when more and more Nave began to appear, they were welcomed.”

“Where did they come from?”

“From the woods. Sometimes they would appear during the night while the others slept; sometimes, they came during the day while they worked. They had no idea how they got there, just that they were there with the same purpose as the rest of the Nave – the complete obliteration of the Skai.”

“Hold up, time out!” I said, making a T with my hands. “If the point of creating the Nave and Skai was so you guys would kill each other, why go thru all that trouble? Why not just pick a place, line the guys up on opposite sides like chess pieces, and let them go at it?”

“Excellent question Jacob! There’s hope for you yet.”

“Thanks…I think.”

“I suppose they could’ve made it that simple, but it wouldn’t have been worthy of their magnificence. These were petty Gods, after all, and they had to put on a show for Aal’ee’s benefit. They wanted to showcase their genius and ingenuity thru their creations. They wanted to prove that one progeny was better than the other. Ultimately, they wanted us to rise from nothing to defeat one another. Their egos would allow for nothing less.

“How would we do it? What tactics would we develop? What weapons could we dream up? What were the possibilities without their direct intervention? The mere thought of these questions made the Gods salivate. They had to know. After all, time had no meaning for them. Not like it does for you. Ten thousand years could have easily been a day in their eyes.”

“I guess that makes sense,” I said. “But what caused their hatred for the Skai? So far, you haven’t said anything that would lead me to believe they deserved it. Unless I’m missing something.”

“There was no reason. The hatred was woven into the very fiber of our being upon our creation. It coursed thru us like the blood in our veins. When you get down to it, that’s the real tragedy, isn’t it?”

“Ok…but can’t you guys just stop?”

“Could you so easily stop breathing just because I ask?” Q let out a soft, disheartened laugh. “If only it were that simple. Sadly, it would be centuries before the Nave even saw their first Skai, but they knew they were out there. That’s all the motivation the Nave needed.

“As the days turned to years, our numbers grew until all 33,000 thousand Nave were created, and our civilization went from straw and timber to soaring towers of Lusinite and Eiyrlin. We discovered Lusinite while exploring the many caverns beneath the island. It was a rare ore we learned to harvest and use in conjunction with a type of concrete we developed that allowed us to build structures with impressive arches, domes, towers, porticos, and colonnades. The city was awash in massive white columns and multicolored Eiyrlin crystal. Sunlight glittered across every surface and somehow reflected off and absorbed into every structure it touched.

“Aquaiia danced in the day and shimmered at night.

“It was pristine.

“We used Eiyrlin, a multicolored crystal that grew in abundance within the same caves as the Lusinite, to beautify Aquaiia. It was also beneficial in creating very deadly weapons. We used swords, spears, maces, and bows, but they were not forged from metal but Eiyrlin and Lusinite. Trust me; you don’t want to get caught at the end of the Eiyrlin blade.

“Before we knew it, our kingdom was born, and K’tas was crowned High King of the Nave. With the Court of Elders by his side, he ruled for many prosperous years. They continued to pound out the armor and weapons through it all until they could arm all 33,000 Nave.”

“Can I ask a dumb question?” I asked.

“Better than most people I know. Why?”

“Ha!” I lightly punched his shoulder. “You’re funny, but not really. Anyway, by now, all the Nave were assembled, right?”

“Right.”

“So, where were you during all this?”

“Like most Nave you’ve met in this house, I didn’t come into the picture for a while.”

“Uh-huh…and how exactly did you come into the picture because I thought you said your Gods agreed not to create more than the original 33,000.”

“That’s true, and they didn’t create anymore, but you’re getting ahead of the story, Jacob.”

“Okay, just tell me this,” I insisted. “Were there any Nave women among the 33,000?”

Q shook his head.

“So, how did you grow your numbers?”

“We didn’t. That was the whole point remember? A certain number of Nave and Skai until one side was defeated.”

“Riiight…” I laughed. “So, it was just one big ol’ gay orgy going on up there on Paradise Island.”

“Again, no. There wasn’t any Nave-on-Nave action going on.”

“Are you serious? What’s the point of being around a bunch of hot guys if there isn’t any loving going on?”

“Love?” Q snickered. “Jacob, we had no concept of love at that time. It wasn’t built into us. We were warriors first. Sure, my people had a sense of loyalty and camaraderie. They looked out for each other. They understood the importance of every Nave being at their best if they were to survive the coming battle. But that real love that bonds two people together, the kind of love we share that will grow with every passing day, did not exist in the hearts and minds of my people.”

Hearing him say that about us made a huge smile appear on my face. The more I tried to hide it, the goofier I looked. “So, no sex?”

“No sex.”

“Now that’s fucking depressing!”

“Okay, getting back to the point…Over two centuries passed without incident while both sides armed for Armageddon. It all came to a head one night when three Nave were gathering supplies from the surface and ran into a patrol of Skai. For the first time in history, the two sides met. The Nave had never seen the Skai, and yet, pure instinct made their enemy's black wings, deep gray skin, and onyx eyes immediately recognizable.

“Only one of the three Nave made it back to Aquaiia with enough strength to tell his story. There wasn’t much the others could do to save his life. For all their accomplishments, they never developed a valid method of healing and care. They relied on their natural regenerative abilities over the years. That night we learned that wounds caused by Skai weapons could not be healed so quickly.

“He died the following day, and the Nave vowed to teach the Skai the same lesson.

“The alarm went out. A wave of anger spread thru Aquaiia like a sonic boom, and by midday, thousands of Naves took to the sky seeking blood and retribution. The Skai were on a similar warpath.

“The two armies clashed with a furious rage that caught even the Gods off guard. And while surprised by the vengeance, they welcomed the sight. Finally, the El’odians were fulfilling the promise of their creation. They watched, awed by their genius, as thousands upon thousands of Nave and Skai fell over the next few days.

“On day four, both sides finally pulled back to their respective cities to regroup for the final assault. Only seven to eight thousand of my people left, and the Skai suffered similar losses. Despite the tremendous loss of life, both sides were unwavering in their determination to destroy each other.

“This filled Aal’ee’s heart with sorrow. Not because she cared what happened to us, but because she knew the end was near. She would lose the love and affection of either Naveyk or Skailer.”

“But I thought that’s what they all wanted?” I asked.

“It’s what Naveyk and Skailer wanted, but Aal’ee never wanted this. She didn’t want to pick between them. She fed off all the attention they gave her over the eons. The thought of losing that was unbearable, but she was forced to watch as the armies mustered their strength for the final battle.”

“Why didn’t she stop them? She was a Goddess after all.”

“Even as a Goddess, she did not have power over that which she did not create. As the reality of her impending loss set in, Aal’ee wept for the first time. A single tear fell from the heavens and set the sky ablaze. From this tear, the essence of Aal’ee, the first El’odian Ai’lea, was born…the Great Mother, the first true immortal.

“It wasn’t something the Goddess planned, at least not on a conscious level, but she was so desperate to find a way to end this war it happened.

“It worked.

“The Great Mother was the first El’odian to be blessed with the power of the Gods, and so from her, our female counterparts were created and began appearing around the city. This changed everything. The Nave had never seen such a being, and their curiosity overtook them. Suddenly in the wake of something so new and exciting, the prospect of continuing the war disappeared.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Q was confused and maybe a little annoyed as well.

“You’re saying you, manly men, were ready to go off to war, but something new and shiny came along and distracted you?”

He thought about it for a moment, caught on to the humor, and started laughing. “I guess you’re right, but you must understand they had never seen a female before. They were wingless, delicate, and beautiful in honor of the Goddess Aal’ee, and unlike the Great Mother, they were mortal. The Nave were completely taken by them, and I’m sure something similar was happening with the Skai.”

“Talk about your Trojan Horse,” I added.

“Tell me about it! It was an ingenious plan, even if it was by accident. The Ai’lea’s love and compassion tempered the Nave’s hatred and lust for blood. It was the first time these concepts were introduced into our societies, spreading like a virus. Nave began falling in love with the Ai’lea and other Nave.”

“Ah-ha!” I shouted and clapped my hands. “Finally, some Nave-on-Nave action!”

“You’re simple,” Q laughed. “But yes, thanks to the influence of the Ai’lea, the Nave and Skai were finally able to form bonds that went beyond that of soldiers on the battlefield. We finally knew the real essence of love.

“As you can imagine, Nave society changed immeasurably because of the Ai’lea. Before long, the first cries of children echoed the great halls of Aquaiia. King K’tas crowned his first queen, and with their first child, the Line of Kings was born.

“Despite everything the Ai’lea offered my people, they were not slaves to our every whim. Nave and Ai’lea were partners in all things, and to ensure her daughters had the chance to find and explore their own identities, the Great Mother created the city of Cyprinia on the Island of Aldmere. It was a haven for all Ai’lea who wanted to spend their time in service to the Goddess Aal’ee. Their hope was to one day be named a Priestess of Aal’ee by The Great Mother, who ruled as the High Priestess.

“It was their highest honor.

“These Priestesses, under the guidance and tutelage of the Great Mother, became the healers and caregivers for all El’odian. They were the ones who delivered our children and performed the union ceremony for couples wanting to be bonded. They introduced us to different art forms where there were none before. Suddenly instead of reaching for a blade, some of my people reached for a brush and canvas; others filled our halls with songs and lyrics. Poets, writers, and sculptors emerged. Hands that could be hard in the throes of battle could now also be soft in the throes of creativity. Before we knew it, the Age of the Artisan was born.”

Q stopped for a moment. I’m sure this pause was to let me absorb all the history I was given.

“So, how exactly did this work?” I wondered aloud. “Were the Ai’lea divided between the Skai and Nave?”

“Not at all, Jacob. The Ai’lea were seen as neutral parties in all things. Regardless of who an Ai’lea was bonded to, whether to Nave or Skai, she could enter either city to perform her duties without hindrance. That’s how much both sides loved them.

“Don’t misunderstand. The arrival of the Ai’lea did not dissolve the fundamental predatory nature between the Nave and Skai. It was not all hugs, roses, rainbows, and puppies. We still hated each other with a passion, but our priorities changed thanks to the appearance of the Ai’lea. We became more concerned with raising our families and protecting them from the harsh reality of war.

“And so it was for thousands of years. That’s not to say our history after the arrival of the Ai’lea was free of conflict. There were the occasional border skirmishes and other random battles here and there. Three significant conflicts led to years of open war between the Nave and Skai. But the Great Mother and her Priestesses always managed to extinguish the flames of war and bring peace to all El’odian.

“Throughout nearly ten millennia, my people flourished into a civilization of hundreds of thousands.” He stopped and looked up at the moon. The pale light ignited his eyes. Q appeared to be somewhere else wholly, the weight of what was to come clear on his shoulders.

Something wasn’t right.

My lips parted to utter two short words.

I hesitated, but it only lasted a moment. I needed to know.

“What happened?”

Slowly, Q lowered his gaze to the ground below. “Like all things, Jacob, nothing last forever,” he said softly, “for something happened the Goddess Aal’ee did not intend….”