The Mamluks (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 1) Read online

  I nodded. “It is.”

  “Juozas has not matured. Therefore, you should have been the cat.”

  I laughed. “Are you kidding me? Have you seen our son lately? I’m no match for him.”

  Adomas narrowed his eyes, chewing. “Why are you no match?”

  I leaned my head, giving him a sarcastic look. “That’s obvious.”

  Adomas shook his head. “You confuse size with strength, Emily.”

  I grinned and put my elbows on the table. “So, what are you saying? That I could beat even you?

  Adomas nodded. “Certainly.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “That’s impossible.”

  Juozas cut in. “I think you could beat Father.”

  We all glanced at each other for a second, then busted into laughter. It was such a delight to have this silly debate at the dinner table. Being part of a family again made me feel complete. And unlike my previous life, I was determined to never take it for granted.

  Chapter 34

  I was standing in a cave, waiting for the soldiers to give me orders. They were blasting the walls with their lasers, knocking large chunks of rock to the ground. After gathering a nice sized pile, a soldier pressed a button on her device and a thin laser popped out. She turned a knob on the device, adjusting the width of the laser. And gradually, she moved the laser over the rocks.

  Shockingly, tiny pieces of metal extracted from the rocks and fell to the ground. Seeing that kind of advanced technology sent chills down my spine. She went on for a while, moving the laser over the rocks until there were heaps of metal on the ground. Finally, she waved over another soldier. He walked up to me and dropped a stack of bins.

  “Now, Human. Put the particles in these bins,” she said.

  I got down on my knees and picked the tiny pieces up off the ground, placing them in the bins. We stayed in the cave until sundown. By then, I had filled ten bins. The soldiers carried them out of the cave and loaded them in a hovercraft. And at last, they ordered me to a ship. Feeling exhausted and starved, I wobbled to my feet and dragged myself to the ship.

  The soldiers flew to Adomas’s building and put me in the dungeon I had been living in for so long. There was a bowl of food on the floor and two cups of water next to it. I sat down and ate half the food, leaving the rest for Robert.

  A few minutes later, the door opened, and a soldier pushed Robert inside. He looked just as spent as I was. Robert took a seat against the wall and massaged his legs.

  “How was the day?” I asked.

  “Numbing.”

  I handed him his cup and the bowl. Robert drank the water in a hurry and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Then he quickly ate.

  “What did you do today?” he asked, chomping.

  I put my hands up and spread my fingers, showing him the cuts and blisters. “They had me working in a cave—picking up metal as they extracted it from the rocks.”

  Robert sadly shook his head. “I was working in the forest—gathering crops.”

  I exhaled. “I would've much rather been doing that.”

  At this point, sharing our misery was the only thing that made sense anymore. And, every night before sleep, I joined Robert in prayer. It was always pleasing to end the day with some encouragement.

  “Dear Lord, even during these dark times, I know that you have not abandoned us. That is why we can never abandon You. Give us the strength to carry on, all mighty God. Watch over us as we fight to survive. Watch over our beloved friend Madison, and all who suffer. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.”

  Chapter 35

  After being with Adomas for so long, I now knew more details about his responsibilities. As Champion of the Mamluks, he was in charge of security. However, his title could be taken away at any time.

  Every soldier had the opportunity to challenge Adomas in hand-to-hand combat. If he were to lose, the soldier who defeated him would then become Champion.

  Remarkably, I was told that Adomas had been Champion for a very long time. But he was slowing down. And in their society, the spawn of the Champion was usually the one who defeated the Champion.

  A sandstone stadium that resembled the ancient Roman Colosseum was built to showcase the competition. It was located in the heart of the forest, a few miles from our building. A soldier from another region had come to challenge Adomas.

  Juozas and I were headed to the stadium to watch. Our ship landed a few minutes before the fight began, and a soldier escorted us to our seats in the front row. Dalia, the Ruler of all Mamluks, was sitting next to us. I was surprised to see her in public. Since the celebration of Juozas’s birth, she had been somewhat of a recluse.

  “Hello, Dalia. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “Emily, it is wonderful to see you again.” She bent down a little. “And you as well, Juozas.”

  “Hello,” he mumbled shyly.

  A horn sounded, and the challenger walked out of a tunnel on the other side of the stadium. The soldier stopped near the center of the stadium floor and scanned the arena with fury in his eyes. The crowd cheered as he looked on.

  Shortly after, a second horn sounded, and Adomas walked out of the tunnel on our side of the stadium. They were both wearing the traditional soldier’s outfit. Black cargo-looking pants, black boots, with no shirt on.

  To win the fight, a combatant had to make their opponent submit either verbally or physically—or knock them unconscious. Adomas put his arms out and screamed, glaring at the challenger. And right then, a third horn went off, and the battle began.

  Adomas ran at the challenger and tried to tackle him to the ground. But the soldier was able to push him away. The challenger came forward and caught Adomas with a quick jab. Adomas responded with a swift kick to the soldier’s leg, buckling him a bit.

  The challenger came right back with a fast combination, peppering Adomas with punches and kicks. I was getting worried. The challenger was much faster and more fluid. Adomas tried to tackle him again, but it didn’t work. Then, the soldier jumped high and kneed Adomas in the face. The shot sent him stumbling backwards.

  The entire arena gasped and rose to their feet. I got up and put my hand over my heart, trying to calm my nerves. But Adomas quickly regained his awareness and delivered a stinging blow to the challenger’s stomach. The strike wobbled the soldier, and Adomas followed up with a take-down.

  He pinned the challenger to the ground and battered him with punches and elbows. Within seconds, the soldier’s face was a bloody mess. He desperately tried to get up, but Adomas stayed on top and continued to hammer away. Finally, the challenger waved his hand, signaling a submission.

  The crowd roared as Adomas rose. I cheered loud and threw my hands in the air. Juozas was jumping up and down, imitating his father’s moves. The challenger got up and walked to Adomas. He gave him a quick nod, then got on the ground and bowed at Adomas’s feet, declaring him the winner.

  I smiled. “Whew, still the Champ.”

  Chapter 36

  Giedre came to our building to patch up Adomas’s wounds. I was lying on the bed in a silk robe, watching.

  “That was a close call today.”

  “Yes, the soldier was very good.”

  Giedre was using her laser device to stitch up a cut on his cheek.

  “Wow, that thing can do it all.”

  “The sija is a superb tool.”

  “Ah—so they’re called sijas.” I nodded slowly, pondering. “How are they made?”

  “The programming is sent from Marsden. It is then installed in the gears. The physical exterior is crafted by one of my prisoners.”

  “That’s interesting. Who’s the prisoner?”

  “An Ecknor named Elos.”

  I blinked my eyes. “What’s an Ecknor?”

  “They were the dominant species of the planet Eztu—before we arrived.”

  My eyes got wide. “Whoa, wait a minute. You’ve conquered other planets?”

  Adomas nodded. “Four to be ex
act—including Earth. Eztu was to be the last. Then the tragedy of our females occurred.”

  Giedre finished patching up Adomas and left. I took off my robe and got on my back. Adomas came to the bed and undressed. I smiled as he looked down at me.

  “So, you’re just a big bad bully.”

  “A bully?”

  “Yeah, an intimidator.”

  Adomas smiled and nodded, climbing on top. He gently brushed his fingers along my body, eying me all over. “Yes, a magnificent bully.” Adomas lowered his head and kissed my breast.

  I closed my eyes and moaned, feeling his soft, wet lips against my skin. “Yes, you are.”

  Chapter 37

  Two soldiers came to the dungeon and took me and Robert outside. I was expecting them to split us up like always. But instead, they led us to another tunnel on the other side of the building. We walked down and stopped at a metal door. One of the soldiers pressed a button on her device that opened the door, revealing a steep stairway.

  We went down the steps and walked into a spacious dungeon. There was someone on the far side, organizing an assortment of gears on a group of tables. The few candles lighting the room made it difficult to see.

  “Humans—you will be working with him now. Follow his orders—or you will be killed.”

  The soldiers left and closed the door. The mysterious figure turned around and came forward. He had reptilian skin, a lumpy face and webbed hands. Even stranger was the mask the creature was wearing. It covered mostly the back of his head, with a speaker fastened to his mouth.

  “I am Elos,” a computerized voice said, coming from the speaker.

  Robert and I glanced at each other.

  “Right this way.” He quickly went back to where he’d been.

  I studied the room as we followed him. There was a machine near the far wall that looked like something you would find in a factory. It had all sorts of outlandish controls and a conveyor belt coming out the end.

  I turned and checked the tables, scanning the unusual gears. “What is all this?”

  Robert walked to a table and picked up a gear. He studied it for a second, then handed it to me. I narrowed my eyes as I looked it over.

  Thereafter, Elos walked by and took the gear. “I will explain.” He set it down on the table.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “I am a prisoner of Adomas. My duties are to craft the sija’s exterior and bind it with these gears.”

  “What’s a sija?” Robert said.

  “The device used to combat your kind.”

  My body grew numb. I looked at Robert like we had just won the lottery. And right after, I looked back at Elos with wide eyes. “This is where their weapons are made? But I don’t understand. Why would you help them?

  Elos pointed at the collar around his neck. “I have no choice.”

  Robert gave him a somber look of understanding. “What is your species, Elos? And where are you from?

  “I am an Ecknor, a descendant of the planet Eztu.”

  I stepped forward. “How did you end up here?”

  “Dalia declared an end to her conquest after our enslavement. Subsequently, the females of her society mysteriously lost the ability to bear offspring. Dalia searched the universe for some time, looking for a compatible species to carry on their bloodline. At last, she found Earth.”

  A huge weight was lifted after hearing the admission. I stood there for a moment, shaking my head as I reflected. Then, I paused. “Wait—who’s Dalia? I thought Adomas was their leader.”

  “Adomas is the Champion. Dalia is the Ruler.”

  “Is she here, on Earth?” Robert asked.

  “Yes. She resides in this building.”

  I walked to one of the tables and put my hands on the surface, looking down at the gears. It seemed unfathomable that Elos would remain a prisoner with all this information. “Why haven’t you tried to escape?”

  “It is impossible to escape.”

  “But you have access to their weapons. Can’t you make one for yourself and use it against them?” Robert said.

  “The sija is merely a binding of gears. It can only be activated by a power source called ozlon.”

  I spun around and stared at Elos. “What’s ozlon?”

  “It is a substance found on the planet Marsden. Ozlon collects energy from a biological host until it stabilizes. When stable, the substance can be controlled by the host to create a profusion of energy.”

  I smiled and gradually nodded “The lasers.”

  “What does ozlon look like?” Robert asked.

  “It is a beige marble.”

  I immediately recalled the jewel Emily was wearing. “Who handles the ozlon?”

  “The Ruler is the only one with access to the power source.”

  Robert chuckled and threw his hands up. “So all we have to do is take it from her.”

  “As I say, Human, it is impossible to evade Adomas. These collars we wear are tracking devices, controlled by his sija. If you were to run, he would apply pressure and strangle you.”

  “Then let’s work together and find a way to break them off,” I said.

  Elos paused for a second. “You humans are persistent. I admire such courage. However, I assure you: these collars are unbreakable.” He turned toward the tables. “Now, if your questions have concluded, we can begin our work.”

  I let out an aggravated huff and turned back to the tables. “What will you have us do, Elos?”

  He picked up one of the larger gears. Then, he picked up a smaller gear and locked them together. “Complete this task for each set, and organize the combined gears.”

  I nodded and got to work. Robert came over and joined me. We glanced at each other, and I knew he was thinking the same thing. All we had to do was convince Elos to help us, and we would have another chance at freedom.

  Chapter 38

  I was standing on the roof of our building, on my way to the Soldiers’ Academy to drop Juozas off for training. Our ship came out of the sky and landed a few yards away. Juozas went in first, and I followed. Minutes later, we arrived and landed by the main entrance. We headed inside and met up with Katie, Bridget and their children.

  The instructor was a former Champion named Ignas. And even though he didn’t look it, I was told that he was very old.

  “Hello, Ignas.”

  He gave me a kind nod. “Emily.”

  “Juozas tells me he’s been excelling in training.”

  “Excel is not the word. He has become my best student.”

  I saw London staring at Juozas, smirking. “That’s rubbish, Ignas. I am your best student,” he said in a British accent. He was a fiery boy, and the friendly competition between him and Juozas was fun to watch. “Isn’t that right, Lauren-Lynn?”

  Lauren-Lynn crossed her arms and put her chin up. “No. Because I am his best student.”

  Ignas chucked. “You will all become great soldiers. However, the blood of the Champion runs through Juozas’s veins. He is destined to take the title. And his promise shows tremendously.”

  London stepped away from Bridget and got in Juozas’s face. “That’s funny. Because all I see is weakness.”

  Juozas glared at London.

  “All right. That’s enough out of you,” Bridget said, pulling London back.

  Ignas headed toward the training room. “Come, my students.”

  I gave Juozas a hug and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later, Love. Have a good day.”

  “Goodbye, Mother.”

  Afterward, I flew back to my building and found Adomas in the security room on the third floor. He was sitting at the control board, looking over a few holographic monitors.

  Adomas glanced at me. “Emily.”

  I walked up to him. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

  “Certainly not. These are standard procedures I must attend to.”

  I took a quick look at the monitors. Some of them showed slaves working in the forest. And others
showed recreation sites for soldiers and citizens.

  I looked back to Adomas and put my hand on his arm. “I want to see Dalia.”

  He nodded. “I shall send her the request.”

  Chapter 39

  That night, I was brought to Dalia’s room on the top floor. She was sitting on a wooden chair by the window, looking over a hologram from her sija.

  She peeked at me and smiled as I walked to her. “Emily.”

  I stopped at the sofa next to the chair and took a seat. “Hello, Dalia.” I checked the hologram and realized she was reading text. “What are you reading?”

  “Reports from Marsden.”

  I nodded restlessly, wishing I could visit. “How are things back home?”

  “Excellent.” She pressed a button that made the hologram go away. “You wished to see me, Emily?”

  I touched the marble she gave me and glanced at it. “Yes. It’s about this.”

  Dalia leaned forward and checked it. “There is great conflict in you.”

  I nodded sadly and put my head down. After all this time, I was still struggling to escape my emotions. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “To stabilize the substance—the host must be free from uncertainty.”

  I looked up at her, blinking. “What kind of substance is this?”

  “It is ozlon. Our greatest source of power.”

  “Why did you give it to me?”

  Dalia waited a second before responding. “When Juozas defeats Adomas—you will become my successor.”

  I trembled and got a little lightheaded. “What?”

  “That is the way of our society. The mother of the Champion rules the land. And the Champion protects the mother.”

  I looked off in a daze. “That means…Adomas is your son.”

  Dalia nodded. “He is.”

  “And that makes Juozas your grandson. Wow—this is amazing.” Then, a troubling thought crossed my mind. “Wait—so if Lauren-Lynn defeats Adomas? Would Katie become the Ruler?