***** ***** ***** ***** CHAPTER SIX ***** ***** ***** *****
Written by Eric Fischer
Edited by Champ11 US Army ROTC


Following the first attack against the Imperial forces, Adric watched as more and more Darnethlil seemed to get swept up in the role of leader, commander, and organizer. More and more he would bring those of his clan into the growing insurgencies. Yet the more people brought in, the more Adric worried, he never seemed to have any plan other then simply the next attack upon Tajlan forces. And the attacks themselves left Adric further worried.

Sure they had had no real losses, no great defeats, but they hadn’t exactly been going after military installations or heavy armed forces or bases. It seemed more like simple hit and runs attacks. Weapons were seized and destroyed and the Soldiers were tired up and left. Adric was, curious about why they weren’t captured, he remembered once asking Darnethlil why they were let go and had been disturbed when Darnethlil had responded by saying simply that:

“The Soldiers will never fight again.”

Despite what Darnethlil had said, Adric sensed that the true motives behind Darnethlils attacks were generated more by the murder of his father then a plan to liberate his people. As far as Adric was concerned Darnethlil had no serious plans, no tactical knowledge and very few resources. Compounding these faults Adric had observed how much Darnethlil was hampered by his own beliefs and religions views. The guilt from even a single death from either his Clan or the enemy weighed heavily upon his shoulders.

To Adric the fact that Darnethlils people had won their first few raids with minor injuries and no deaths had surprised him. Though Adric was glad that his alien friend was successful, the victories they claimed brought their people no closer to freedom from the Tajlan Empire. Darnethlils Clan, strong as it may be, lived on one small unimportant landmass. Even if they managed to liberate the entire territory, how could he even begin to help the other twelve Clans?

For the most part Adric tried to keep his concerns to himself. He could never trust Darnethlil not to stay out of his mind and he did his best to only think of such things when the Trathalan was not around.

That was one other thing which worried him. He had been on the world for almost a month and so far had yet to be introduced to anyone else. He felt isolated and alone, and every time Darnethlil left he worried that he would never see the Trathalan again.

Eventually he could no longer hold his concerns, on an evening as Darnethlil returned from yet another ‘victory’ .

Adric waited for him inside of his room. The large Trathalan entered, weary and looking tired. Adric hesitated, this was not his first attempt to confront both his savoir, and his captor, and he began to think differently but was betrayed by his thoughts.

”You worry; you worry of my cause and me. Forgive me Adric, I feel I have indeed become caught in the need to drive out these invaders from my home.”

Adric looked up, he wanted to say more but was a bit taken aback. It unnerved him greatly that the alien read his mind so casually, yet at the same time he answered a question Adric had no idea how to ask. He slipped back in the chair he so often sat at, watching as once more Darnethlil unlocked a place under the floorboards, depositing captured Tajlan assault rifles.

Adric wondered just how many weapons had been captured by now; enough to probably arm all of his freedom fighters, if they ever dared used the damn things.

Darnethlil shot him an angry glare, his wings flared in an equally angry appearance as Adric slunk back a bit.

”Do you not think how easy it would be to use my enemies own weapons against them? If I did so it would go against everything I hold dear, I have sacrificed already so much of my soul to this fight, I will not compromise myself any more!” Once more Adric found himself have questions answered he couldn’t possibly put into words. He felt frustrated and upset. He steadied himself and finally spoke up.

“ It is not alone that. I am alone, always, you self are my only Trathalan known here. You depart and know nothing of others here, what if you do not return? What if you, killed?” Adric spoke, his eyes beginning to water from his emotion. He didn’t exactly agree with the Trathalan on how he did things, but for whatever reason, he had become attached to the big ‘dragon’ and couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to him. Darnethlil sighed and began to understand, he closed his eyes, reciting a verse of scripture before laying his hand on Adrics shoulder.

“ You always seem to speak words of truth Adric of Gaea, much is there I learn from you. The time has come I believe to end you being a ‘prisoner’ to me. Indeed, the time is approaching that a great council will be had; plans are being formed for a great and glorious attack on our oppressors. And when we meet, I think it is time to introduce you to the others of my world. I think first however, I need to teach you how to ‘speak’ without wings.”

Adric looked behind himself, suddenly a bit self-conscious as Darnethlil smirked.

Since that night, Darnethlil had seemed fit to take up ‘tutoring’ the alien in the ways of his world. He was taught greetings and customers, etiquette and proper social interaction. To begin with, he had to get used to the concept that they almost never smiled or used facial expressions of any kind when they could help it. Most all emotion was displayed through their wings, understanding these gestures were somewhat daunting though, and often led to embarrassment as Darnethlil seemed to delight in pointing out that Adric had no wings of his own to sign with.


Never the less, Darnethlil seemed true to his word, following that night the Trathalan began to speak openly for the first time about much of his society, culture and how his world, used, to be.

As the two sat in his study one evening, they had spent the day, much as all the others before it, with Adric once again desperately trying to understand the Trathalan written language. Adric remembered how looking at the bizarre flowing script had once made his eyes water. Yet now, to his own immense surprise, he was starting to comprehend it. He sat in the large round chair in the middle of the room holding a book he had been told was around three hundred years old.

"Huzzlanthr thronlira huffanrin zzraatron thalanphalo, ipola stra ehenro." He said, his Human mouth making a formal butchery of words designed for a mouth more similar to a lizard. Despite this, he looked to Darnethlil and relayed to him.

" Living-words conjunction great-laws of high-holy one for high-holy one knowledge supreme. His mind translated form the words he spoke. He realized he shouldn't have been surprised it seemed to be yet another holy book he was reading. Most of the books in Darnethlils Library where religious books of some form or another, dictating ways of worship, rituals, daily prays and endless forms of self-meditation.

What Adric found odd was it seemed to come easier and easier. Normally he wouldn't question such excelling at learning something new, but he remembered that he had twice flunked Spanish 101, and this seemed several degrees more complicated. Still however it was happening, he was glad for it. He was able to finally begin to do something when Darnethlil as not at home and, despite the fanatical religious nature of the culture, Adric was beginning to appreciate Trathalan society. At least, for a civilization that still seemed in the early 1500's.

Setting the book down, Adric considered much of what he had learned. The driving factor behind much of Trathalan life seemed to be religion, but it certainly seemed to differ from what he had expected. It had a central God that was worshiped, but everything else about it seemed to resemble Eastern religions of Earth, then the monotheistic western religions he usually associated with. Each Clan practiced slightly different version, but all of them seemed to accept them as being part of a single unified philosophy.

The aspect that most surprised, or impressed Adric, was that far from having one ancient unchanging book, the religion seemed to encourage both new ideas and constantly questioning old philosophy. The result of course, seemed to be countless books of an ever-changing religious philosophy. He guessed it was probably the reason for the apparent lack of advancement with any sort of technology, but it was at least less annoying that religion on Earth.

As always, Darnethlil seemed to be reading his thoughts.

“I continue to discovery it a curiosity that you have such a low opinion of your own holy worship practices, I am reminded however that the worship you have thus far described to me of your world seems overly consumed with the conversion of others then the betterment of ones own self” Adric smiled, this was something he had often refrained from discussing. Not out of any sense of defending the various faiths of his world, far from it, he felt he could speak for days about the aspects of Earth religion that on a daily basis had so often driven him mad.

“You understand self’s own thoughts on religion worship, It not aspect I often wish to converse about” He relayed as best he could to Darnethlil, who for once seemed to let it go.

“I believe that perhaps it best we move on from this topic for now, there is still much I should teach you before the time comes when others make contact with you" He said, flicking his wings a bit in thought.

“You know my Clan, Lonti, and that I am its leader, though this is somewhat of a poor time for which to lead my people." he said, whispering to himself for a moment in pray.

“Of course there are many others across my world, all of which you should come to know. When I myself was young one of the first things I was taught by my tutor was a simple song that aided in formalizing myself with the Clans of my world." Adric watched as Darnethlil without a moment’s hesitation started to sing.

It sounded, to Adrics sudden realization, like a nursery rhyme its rhythm was simple, and the odd Trathalan words seemed to rhyme with one another over and over. What his mind heard however was a bit different.

“Hear then before you, the custodians of Trathala and Hurn; long ago together as one, separated by time and conflict each balanced against itself.

Know then Clan Jipal, owners of the oceans, keepers of boats and harvesters of water.
Know then Clan Lyman, masters of the forbidden dance, keepers of the flattened music. Practice the art of the shinning glass.

Adric listened as Darnethlil went on through name after name. Each Clan it seemed had its own purpose, something that each where known for. The translator didn’t seem to work well for much of it, though Adric picked up on the Clan names.

Indri, Orin, Stry, Nazul, Galin, Lonti, Liya.

Adric blinked, as the last phrase seemed to echo in his head

Know then Clan Liya, thieves of the forbidden arts, breaker of the ultimate law. Always they seek the shattered past.

When he had finished, Darnethlil looked at Adric with at first a pleased expression, but changed as he felt a strange puzzlement to the Humans mind. Adric, who had tried to listen to the words in his mind, without being too distracted by the rhythmic melodic tones of Darnethlils speech, had found himself increasingly wondering about much of what the song was referring too. He guessed it was simply a kids version describing in the simplest terms what the other 'Clans' of Trathala practiced or excelled in. However, his brain had seemed to get caught up on one of the Clans description.

“What wrong knowledge Clan Liya steal?” Adric asked, curious that out of all the descriptions, only this one seemed to be outwardly negative. Looking at Darnethlil for the briefest of moments he caught, or maybe felt, a moment of regret. Now, he could feel it, in Darnethlils recalling of what must have been a fond childhood song, he had said something he shouldn't have.

Darnethlil looked noticeably uncertain, something Adric wasn't sure he had ever seen before. The Trathalan seemed to hesitate before compiling a response.

“They have always been, unstable. Their leaders have in our history, tired to bring about; ways of thinking, the rest of us have long ago done away with. It is best that you do not concern yourself of them.” Darnethlil spoke, and again Adric could feel the emotion in his minds voice. He had remembered a map of Trathala and knew that the Clan was the closest neighbor to the Lonti Clan, the two landmasses separated only by a small channel.

Adric guessed there most be a past between the two. Even a fanatical pacifist cultures must have had disagreements. Still, Darnethlil was hiding something and it worried him.