The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Judgment (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 9: Jevan and Ardyn are brought before the Elder Triumvirate, where they are judged and sentenced for their transgressions in the forbidden woods.

Once they were back on the ground, the hunting party grabbed them and bound their hands behind their backs. They tethered each to a different hunter, while other hunters carried their packs. What surprised Jevan was that they hadn’t killed him on sight. Either Ardyn was wrong about his transgression being an instant death penalty, or the elven elders had other plans for him.

By the next afternoon, the group arrived in Maala’naa. The hunters immediately dragged them in front of the Elder Triumvirate, already convened and awaiting them, seated next to each other on a long bench.

“Kneel!”

Jevan did his best to lower himself to his knees while his hands were still bound behind him, keeping his head up and studying the Triumvirate. Each elder carried a staff, signifying their rank within the Athla’naa community. Jevan recognized each of them based on descriptions Ardyn had given him.

Aelrynd was a female elf with short, dark, bluish-purple hair that had a single streak of silver running back from her left temple. She sat in the center as the eldest and the head of the Triumvirate. To her left sat Druyndar, a male elf with long silver hair and a scowl on his dour face. Taeglyn wore his mix of lavender and silver hair in a long braid, like Ardyn, and looked curiously at the tall, dark Medellan who knelt before him.

Aelrynd spoke first. “You both entered the Aria’una during the day of the storm. We might overlook it as an error because of the weather, but then you remained within the Aria’una for several days afterward. Explain!”

So, Ardyn was right. They knew exactly when they had entered the Aria’una, and for how long they remained, Jevan realized. These elders must possess some technology that allowed them to track their movements, despite traditionally forbidding the use of any such technology.

“I’m sorry, Elder Aelrynd,” Ardyn began. “It’s my fault. I was tracking the sar’ora, as you had tasked me to do. When the storm hit, I didn’t realize how close I was to the Aria’una. I ran blindly, seeking shelter.”

“You hadn’t realized you crossed the perimeter?” the elder asked pointedly.

Ardyn shook his head. “No, Elder, I hadn’t. I found a small cave and spent the night there to escape the deluge. It wasn’t until the next morning, when I climbed a tree to get my bearings, that I realized where I was. I immediately made my way toward the perimeter, but when I stopped to rest, the sar’ora attacked me.”

“Yet you live, seemingly unscathed,” Druyndar pointed out.

“Yes. This athla’maakh, Jevan, saved my life. He killed the sar’ora before it could rip out my throat,” Ardyn explained. “I brought back the pelt as proof. It’s with my pack.”

Druyndar pointed to a hunter. “Bring Ardyn’s pack and unroll the pelt.”

The pelt was laid out before the elders. “After this athla’maakh completed the task I gave you, why did you remain for several days after that?” Elder Aelrynd asked with a frown of disapproval. “Were you injured? Unable to walk?”

“No, Elder Aelrynd,” Ardyn replied softly.

“Speak up!” Druyndar commanded.

“No, I was able to walk,” Ardyn replied.

“Then why did you remain? Explain yourself!” Aelrynd demanded, growing impatient.

Jevan could feel Ardyn’s uncertainty as he hesitated. Looking at him for a moment, Jevan flashed Ardyn a reassuring smile. Nodding, Ardyn squared his shoulders and looked back at the elders.

“I found a strange object in the cave where I sought shelter,” Ardyn revealed. “I showed it to Jevan, thinking it may have been Medellan made. He couldn’t explain it either, so the two of us searched for more clues. We wanted to understand how such an object could exist.”

A brief expression of alarm followed by a dark scowl crossed the face of all three elders. “Where is this object now?” Aelrynd asked.

“In my pocket,” Ardyn replied.

“Search him,” Druyndar commanded.

A hunter went through Ardyn’s pockets until she found the object. In her hand, it glowed as it had for Ardyn, which confirmed Jevan’s suspicion. This technology only worked when touched by an elf.

The hunter handed the object to Aelrynd, who studied it and then handed it to Druyndar.

“Curious, but worthless,” Druyndar said dismissively. “This hardly warrants you ignoring our laws and turning your back on our heritage.”

“It is not worthless! It is a key!” Ardyn declared, causing those assembled to gasp. “We found small structures in the Aria’una, and a tall tower in a large clearing, made from the same finely wrought metal as that key. The key opened the locked doors, allowing us inside. Around the tower, we found an invisible wall that does not allow an athla’maakh to pass through it. Also, at the perimeter — ”

“Enough!” Aelrynd said with a growl. “You blatantly ignored our laws, explored an area that is expressly forbidden, and allowed an athla’maakh to stand witness to the same. That is inexcusable!”

The three elders huddled together and began conferring with each other in hushed tones, occasionally pointing and gesturing angrily at the two of them.

Jevan was stunned at how unsurprised the Triumvirate was at Ardyn’s revelations. As if they had known about this technology all along. This was another confirmation that the Triumvirate had been lying to the elven people. Perhaps for generations. Jevan’s heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process what that meant. He had a bad feeling and feared that his charms and good looks might not get him out of this predicament. Yet, he had nothing left to lose.

“Elders,” Jevan addressed the Triumvirate in the elven tongue, catching them off-guard. “I wish to beg you for mercy. I apologize for blundering into your Aria’una, but I never saw the perimeter, and I wasn’t aware that the area was forbidden. You must believe me. I had no intention of violating your laws. However, if I hadn’t stumbled into the area, I wouldn’t have been there to save Ardyn from the sar’ora that attacked him. Please, neither of us meant any harm. Our curiosities got the better of us.”

The elders rose, ignoring Jevan’s plea. Aelrynd stepped forward. “Ardyn, for violating our most sacred laws, and not only entering the Aria’una, but daring to explore its interior, you are to suffer one hundred lashes. You will also lose all your rights and privileges as a ranger and be confined to the settlement of Maala’naa.”

Ardyn gasped in shock at the pronouncement of his punishment before bowing his head. “Yes, Elder.”

Leveling her gaze onto Jevan and speaking in the language of Medellans, Aelrynd proclaimed her sentence. “As for you athla’maakh, upon first light tomorrow, we will execute you for venturing into the Aria’una, as allowed by the treaty agreement between our people.”

“That’s in the treaty? That you can execute Medellans who accidentally venture into your forbidden forest?” Jevan asked in shock. “Why aren’t my people told about this?”

Aelrynd shrugged her shoulders. “That is between you and your ard. If he failed to warn you, it is no matter to us. It is in the treaty, and so you will die for your transgression. Be grateful we will give you a swift, painless death.”

Turning to the hunters, Aelrynd instructed them on what to do next. “Secure them in separate huts until tomorrow. The athla’maakh may eat if he wishes, but only serve water to Ardyn.”

The hunters nodded and dragged the two off in separate directions.

They stripped Jevan naked and secured him within a small hut that appeared to be used for storage. His hands were bound above his head, forcing him to kneel. As an added precaution, they hobbled his knees. Under different circumstances, Jevan would have flirted with anyone stripping off his clothing, but he didn’t find himself in his usual charming mood.

Jevan shivered in the chill evening air and refused any food they offered. The prospect of dying had made him lose his appetite and eating was rather pointless now, anyway. While kneeling there alone, Jevan looked back on his life. His only regret was not being able to say farewell to his mother and sister. A part of him grieved for his mother, to lose her son in this way. It also saddened him that he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his promise to his sister. Since their father had passed several summers ago, he was to recite the blessing at his sister’s pair-bonding.

Something that surprised him was feeling regret at never having formed a deeper bond with anyone outside of his family. He’d always moved on after a night or two of fun. While he may not have wanted to be forced into a lifelong pair-bond, it didn’t mean he never wanted to find love.

As a slight breeze blew in from the open window of the hut, Jevan realized his face was wet with tears. He hadn’t cried since he was a small boy and he felt somewhat embarrassed that he did so now. His heart ached, but there was nothing he could do about it.

As the daylight waned, nightfall darkened his surroundings. Despite his uncomfortable position, Jevan drifted in and out of consciousness. His mind and body were both weary, and he thought briefly that he might almost welcome death come morning.

Suddenly, Jevan heard a sound at the door of the hut he was in, and it opened and closed swiftly and quietly. It startled him into full wakefulness.

Jevan kept still, wondering what was going on when he felt a hot breath by his ear, and someone whispered hoarsely, “remain silent, please.”

The next thing he knew, they untied his hands and legs, and handed him some clothing. “Dress, quickly,” the voice whispered again.

Complying as fast as he could, with how stiff and numb his limbs were, Jevan pulled on the cloth breeches and shirt before the mysterious figure handed him his boots and cloak. Once dressed, a warm, firm hand grasped his. “Follow me.”

Jevan followed without question as they slipped out of the hut as noiselessly as possible. He followed the cloaked figure as they led him across several bridges before they climbed down out of the trees and slipped silently into the surrounding forest. His rescuer took his hand again to prevent being separated, and they ran for what felt like hours until Jevan needed to stop and catch his breath.

“Wait, please,” Jevan breathed heavily as he dropped to his knees. The other figure stopped and turned around. “Alright, let us rest while we can, but then we must keep moving until we are no longer in Athla’naa lands.”

Jevan nodded and looked up as his rescuer pulled back his cloak and smiled at him.

Ardyn.

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