Chapter 3
Maldenis
After all these years of always being called a fuckup, an irresponsible loser, and good for nothing bum, Maldenis thought he was finally getting his act together.
Even before the incident, he’d been somewhat of a rabble-rouser.
Getting into trouble was his specialty, and by the time he was ten he’d seen more of the principal’s office than any other student in his class, or maybe even the entire school.
Vandalism, some petty theft, breaking into the teacher’s lounge, setting the library on fire—he’d pretty much done it all.
Then, the incident happened.
It was the wakeup call he needed, and he vowed to stay out of trouble. Since then,
he had opened a business with his cousins, and even started to gain back the respect of his community.
He had moved out from the shadows of his youthful indiscretions, and the even longer shadows of his accomplished mother and siblings.
Yes, after all these years, he was finally turning things around.
Or so he thought, up until this moment.
He had a sinking feeling that the “act” he was getting together was actually a one-act play and the audience was leaving.
“What do you mean wedding?” he shouted.
The old guard rolled his eyes. “Weren’t you listening to my explanation? I just told you this was a sacred spring. You entered the spring. Unwed. Unbound—”
“The water binds what it witnesses et cetera, et cetera. Yes, I heard you, Elder.” Maldenis scrubbed a hand down his face.
“I’ve been sneaking in—er, I mean I accidentally stumbled into this spring last year.
As far as I know, I’m the only one who knows about it.
And I have definitely never even heard of it being a sacred matrimonial spring.
How can we be now all of a sudden married? ”
He didn’t dare glance down at Liora, who stood next to him, completely still and quiet, like she’d been sent into catatonic shock. It was such a difference from moments ago when she was like putty in his hands, her soft body yielding as she—
Stop it! That’s what got you into this mess in the first place. Gods, I’m never drinking again.
And if they really were married, he might mean it this time.
The moment Maldenis had laid eyes on her, she’d captivated him. Liora had been so intriguing, projecting a prickly nature, yet he could sense something else from her.
Her appearance projected independence and confidence, her hair a study in defiance as the top was long and thick with strands that flopped over her forehead, but the bottom sheared down to a rough shadow against her scalp.
There was a prettiness and softness to her features that not even her jadedness nor her facial piercings could overpower.
And those eyes—soft, like brown velvet, and the invitation in them, unmistakable.
He had not been surprised at all when she showed up next to him at the bar or that she went along with his plan to sneak into the spring.
Which was how they’d ended up here.
The guard let out a gruff sigh. “You must come with me and meet the Supreme Amghar, Master Hiramus.”
“Who?” he asked.
“The leader of the Council of the Wise.” Exasperation marred the guard’s face. “He’s my boss, and he’s the only one who can rule on this matter.”
“Nuh-uh. This is simply ridiculous,” Maldenis huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “I will not be bullied—”
“You were in the sacred spring—”
“It is no reason to—”
“The spring does not differentiate—”
“Can we stop all the yammering and just go see this guy,” Liora piped in, seemingly snapping out of her coma. “Oh gods, I don’t feel so good.” She covered her face with her hand. “I think I’m gonna throw up and I have a headache the size of Texas.”
“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you drink Solkarian whiskeywine.”
Shooting him a dirty look, she blew out a breath. “I hate you.”
“Likewise,” he snapped back.
“Just take us to your boss,” she said to the guard.
“Follow me.”
Quickly, they redressed and then followed the Elder as he led them out of the spring area.
At first, Maldenis thought they’d go through the chained gate, but to his surprise, the guard slithered around toward the opposite direction behind the pool.
Reaching out, he pulled the curtain of ivy aside to reveal a hidden door.
Maldenis and Liora followed him through a dark tunnel, toward the light at the end.
As soon as they were outside, the familiar heat of the desert air brushed his skin and scales.
They were outside again, in the ruins surrounding the restaurant district.
The guard led them down a path, toward a group of small buildings.
They looked like any of the structures in the area, made of the same dark red stone brick.
The guard led them into the center building, then up a set of stairs and down a long hallway that led to the door.
The guard stopped, knocked on the door three times and then opened it when a voice called inside, instructing them to enter.
“Master Hiramus, it is I, Altreus. I must speak with you about an urgent matter.”
In the middle of the room, a wizened old figure sat behind a large desk, white bushy brows drawn together as he pored over a large, weathered book. A long, serpentine tail covered in silver scales curled out from behind the desk.
As they approached, the old basilisk lifted his head. “Altreus?” he greeted the guard. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at your post at the sacred spring? And who are these Valefolk?”
“Apologies for disturbing you, Master.” The guard—Altreus, apparently—let out a long-drawn sigh. “The answers to those questions are all related, I’m afraid.” He gestured to Maldenis and Liora. “I caught them in the sacred spring. Together. Touching.”
“C-caught them in the spring? Within the waters?” the old basilisk sputtered. “And you told them what this means?”
“Yes, Master Hiramus.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for bringing them here.” He turned to Maldenis and Liora. “What are your names?”
“Maldenis, son to Melora, born in the Eastern State,” he said. When Liora didn’t speak after, he nudged her with an elbow.
“Liora Chura,” she sputtered. “Uh, daughter to Pam and Robert. Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”
Master Altreus clasped his hands together. “It is noted for our records. Now, you two may go, with the blessing of the Council of the Wise. You carry the hopes and wishes of Solkarians, and we wish for you to have a healthy clutch by the next cycle.”
“C-clutch?” Liora’s arms wrapped around her middle. “Oh my gods, I really am going to be sick.”
Maldenis slithered forward. “Look, Master Hiramus is it? This is ridiculous! I’ve never even heard of this sacred spring, much less this legend that says whoever bathes in it has to get married. That’s total bullshit.”
Master Hiramus’s silvery tail whipped behind him as he slid out from behind his desk. “You dare call our ancestors bullshit?” He puffed out his chest as he rose up higher. “They built Solkaris, and we have them to thank for finding us a new home here in Vale Crossing when our kind was cast off.”
Maldenis refused to be intimidated by the other basilisk’s posturing, so he, too, positioned himself a few inches higher. “Our kind doesn’t even believe in marriage. And now just because we got into some so-called sacred spring we’re married?”
“Not now,” he said. “Did you explain it to him, Altreus?”
“Yes, Master Hiramus. At least, I explained that they completed the ritual and now they are bound together in marriage.”
“Which is, as I said, ridiculous,” Maldenis countered. “This isn’t even taught in school. How come I’ve never heard of this so-called sacred spring and marriage ritual?”
“It is a very old law,” Master Hiramus paused. “As you know, while our kind once thrived in the Upperworld, our numbers diminished once we reached Vale Crossing.”
Every basilisk child was taught their history, of how they once lived in harmony with humans on the Upperworld.
However, the humans grew powerful over centuries and they grew fearful of the monsters, and so, they were all exiled.
While every race and creature cast out of the Upperworld had lost something, the basilisks had perhaps suffered more than most.
In the Upperworld, their numbers thrived and they had even established colonies and outposts around the world, from the dry deserts of the Sahara to the shifting sands of the Gobi.
But, according to their history books, barely two dozen families managed to cross the veil into their new home.
No one knew why, perhaps it was because they were so spread apart that they could not pool their resources to make the journey easier.
Or perhaps, because of their fierce appearance, the humans were scared of them and thus had more reason to eliminate them.
“And because we were so desperate to continue our race, we had to make some changes. Our ancestors declared that it was the sacred duty of every basilisk to produce offspring. Everyone was encouraged to spawn healthy clutches with multiple partners. And so over the centuries, our numbers once again flourished.”
“Exactly,” Maldenis interrupted. “And thus, we proved that we don’t need marriage and monogamy.” Basilisks had an abundance of resources and land, so there was no need to control their population either.
“But while our society may have changed,” Master Hiramus continued.
“We still hold our old traditions as sacred. Our ancestors rebuilt the sacred spring, which was transported brick by brick, drop by drop, from our ancient capital to Solkaris. It is our most holy and precious inheritance from those that brought us here.” His eyes narrowed.
“And also, the exact reason we keep the spring locked and guarded.” He raised one single bushy brow at them.
“Why did you go in there in the first place? The fact that the entrance was hidden and guarded should have indicated that it was forbidden to go inside.”