Legends of Amacia Srandi: Last Bastion of the Caverias

“I must say this is a very good place to rest,” Harry said softly as Hannibal started examining the side of the sarcophagus again. “I actually feel at peace in here too, as strange as it sounds, though it’s far too rich for my tastes. I guess it’s because I’m not royalty, but just a normal guy.”

Hannibal could not suppress a chuckle at Harry’s comment. “Same here bud,” he chimed, finding the same ring indentation he’d seen on Leila’s sarcophagus, “This is a bit much even for me. However, I don’t think this place is meant to be just a tomb.” He stood up and looked around, saying while gesturing to everything around them, “Just look around here. This place is not just a tomb for the dead. It’s also a treasury and an armory. I bet the Caverias line placed their most guarded treasures and secrets here because it is the most secure place in the entire fortress, if not the entire planet. Just look at what we had to do in order to get in here. There’s no way they’d use this place as just a mausoleum for their honored dead. There’s far more here than meets the eye. Of this, I am certain.”

“You’re probably right, as always,” Harry replied bluntly, “After all, you’re the expert on all these ancient places. I’m just here to watch your back.”

Hannibal placed a caring hand on Harry’s shoulder, saying with the utmost respect, “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just like Selina, you’re the calming yin to my raging yang Harry. How many times have you saved my ass from my own stupidity?”

“More times than I can count,” Harry answered with a knowing smile.

“Exactly,” Hannibal said emphatically, “So don’t underestimate your contribution here. I could have done none of this had you not had my back from the very beginning. I value your advice and friendship far more than you can ever understand. Remember that, brother.”

Harry nodded, smiling broadly. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he replied. “I appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Hannibal said, removing his hand from Harry’s shoulder. “After all, we’re a team.”

“That we are,” Harry agreed as Andrew led the rest of the team to the dais.

Everyone except Leila gawked in numbed astonishment at the magnificence of the tomb and the treasure horde it contained. Only she had seen this place before, so it didn’t hold her spellbound with its alien grandeur. As Josephine rolled her to the dais, Leila gazed in sincere reverence at the sacred space with a look of fearful anticipation at what she was about to confront. When everyone gathered around the dais, Hannibal looked down at Leila with a sober solemn expression. With a sigh, he said, “Tau, Josephine, set Leila up here on the platform with me. She needs to be able to touch this sarcophagus.” Without a word, Tau and Josephine picked up Leila in her wheelchair and deposited her on the dais with Josephine taking position behind her. Hannibal walked to Leila and knelt at her feet, taking her by the hand. “Are you sure you want to do this, Leila?” he asked solemnly.

“I have to,” Leila whispered fearfully. “I must see her one last time. She’s in there, isn’t she?”

Hannibal nodded gravely, saying, “I’m afraid so, but I have not attempted to open the sarcophagus to make sure. I wanted you right here before I did anything. Do you want to see for yourself if she’s in there?”

Leila’s face twisted with grief as she nodded choking out, “Yes. I have to see or I will never be able to move on.”

“Then come and let’s pay our final respects to your sister,” Hannibal stated, releasing Leila’s hand and standing up. “Come over here and see the epitaph Thoth left honoring your sister.” He walked over to the epitaph and motioned for Leila to follow. Josephine took the hint and rolled Leila over to the engraving on the elaborate sarcophagus overlaid with the finest gold and silver alloys, carved and decorated with the finest iconography, including the finest depictions of the Roc anyone had ever seen. Hannibal squatted down beside the epitaph and looked at Leila, once again asking, “Are you sure? This is your last chance to back out. If you’re not ready for this, just say so. No one will fault you for backing out if you’re not ready.”

“I’m ready,” Leila replied, choking with sorrow. “Read it. Let me hear what Thoth said about my sister.” The rest of the team mounted the dais platform, making a discreet perimeter around the giant sarcophagus out of respect. Enoch and Andrew knelt down either side of Leila and held her hands to console her. She flashed both of them a trembling smile of gratitude at the gestures. Looking back to Hannibal, she whimpered, “Go on, Hannibal. Read the epitaph.”

Hannibal sighed, cleared his throat, and read the inscription, saying solemnly, “Here lies Ariel Seraphina Caverias, Queen of Amacia...loving wife, mother, and soul mate, slain by the Dark Emperor on the thirteenth day of the eleventh month of the seventy-ninth year of the Darkness. Laid to rest by Thoth Emmanuel Caverias and Ezra Romulus Karac on the fifteenth day of the eleventh month of the seventy-ninth year of Darkness, may my beloved Queen finally rest in peace. Thoth Emmanuel Caverias.”

Leila’s strained emotions broke and she sobbed openly, covering her face with her hands. The millennia of sorrow and pain of not knowing her sister’s ultimate fate overflowed in a flood of wails. “Oh Ariel,” she sobbed deeply as Josephine hugged her from behind while Enoch and Andrew embraced her gently from either side. “My beloved sister; what am I to do without you?” She wailed like a banshee, releasing howls of grief and rage at knowing Ariel’s final disposition. It reached to every part of the crypt and into each heart present. Without any prompting, the team dropped to one knee and bowed their heads, paying their respects to the lost Ariel as if she were a cherished family member. Leila’s grief and rage were so potent they all felt it for she was unknowingly sharing it with everyone present. Tears started flowing from some of the hardest souls present, even Nemesis, who now silently renewed his vow to destroy the Emperor to give Leila justice for what Bolthor had done to Ariel.

Selina came in and knelt before Leila, tears flowing. She lifted her palms to Leila without saying a word. Leila felt Selina’s telepathic prompting through her grief and responded, reaching out and engaging with both hands in the Lynxian grief-sharing ritual. She interlaced her fingers with Selina’s and looked her in the eye, sobbing uncontrollably. Selina wanted to say something, but Leila’s grief was so potent she could do nothing but weep with her.

Moved to tears, Hannibal knelt beside Selina on the right and presented his palms to Leila. Leila saw this, and let go with her left hand and grabbed Hannibal’s right hand, interlacing her fingers with his. Hannibal then glanced at Selina, showing his left palm to her, which she instantly grabbed in the grief-sharing ritual and turned her eyes back to Leila. Hannibal did the same, staring into Leila’s shattered soul with the utmost compassion and understanding. He indeed knew the hideous pain and sorrow of losing not just a family member, but also an entire family. Slowly, Leila’s wails subsided and her mind calmed, her rage and grief spent. “Oh Leila,” Hannibal said softly, choked with emotion. “I know you pain for I too have felt it with the loss of my biological family. I know how angry, hurt, and alone it makes you feel to lose someone so close and not be able to stop it, but you must know, you’re not alone. We’re here for you and love you so very much. Don’t give in to your grief and rage. Don’t let it poison and corrupt your soul as it did for me. Please, release this horror, rage, and grief and believe that you’ll never be parted from Ariel for her spirit is always with you. Even now, she looks down and wishes you to be happy. You’ve been given a most precious gift, a gift only one in a trillion may ever get. The Lord has given you a true second chance at life in this world and the chance to see justice done on the Emperor for what he did not just to you, but also to Ariel and the rest of your family. Please, let go of your sorrow, hate, and anger and finally become a true part of our family, which you have already been accepted into.”

“Hannibal’s right,” Selina purred, trying to control her emotions, “You aren’t alone. You have us, and you have Jo, Andrew, and Enoch, even our new friends. We all love you so very much. We know how much Ariel’s passing hurt you, but you needn’t bear it alone. We’re all here to help you bear it for we’re family. I too know the bitter kiss of the Reaper as he took someone I loved very much in my youth. That wound festered until Hannibal rescued my dad and me from the crippled Interceptor the day our civilization died. He saved us and showed me I wasn’t alone. Both of us had loved ones ripped mercilessly from our lives. Only when we found each other did those wounds begin to heal. You too are grievously wounded by the same savage loss, but we’re here to show you that you’re not alone, that we care and love you. Let the pain, rage, and sorrow go so both you and Ariel can be free. Please, don’t let your rage and grief destroy your new life. We want to see you happy and I know Ariel wants it too. I can feel it being this close to her as she lies inside this magnificent resting place. She truly wants you to be happy. It’s why she called us here. She needs closure as much as you do. Make peace with your sister and what happened to her so you both can rest.”

“And don’t worry about justice,” Hannibal intruded softly as Selina finished her plea. “My presence here is the sign that Ariel’s murder will at last be avenged. Justice will be served. The Lord has declared it and it will be done.” He turned his head to the sarcophagus and purred, “Can’t you hear her plea for you not to grieve and know she’s okay. She wants you to let go and move on with your new life. She wants you to be happy, knowing she’s finally at peace. Let her go. Release your burden and be content that even in death, Ariel will always be with you, watching over you just as our guardian angels do.”

A trembling sigh escaped Leila’s lips as she finally looked up with a drained, but now peaceful expression. “Thank you, my friends,” she whimpered, “You have allowed me to truly grieve and vent my rage at what Bolthor did to my sister. I’m forever grateful for what you did for me this day in allowing me to truly say farewell to my sister.”

“You’re very welcome,” Hannibal replied with a warm smile as he let go of Selina’s hand to wipe the tears from his face. “This has been long overdue for you. Just know you’re not alone. You have us as your family now, and know that Ariel’s spirit will always be with you. She will never leave you.”

Leila let go of Selina’s hand, reaching out and touching Hannibal on the jaw while leaning towards him. She touched her forehead to his and said softly, “Thank you for showing me the way out of my darkness, brother. Even though it still hurts, I feel I can now truly move on. Will you let me touch my sister’s resting place?”

“Absolutely,” Hannibal answered, letting go of Leila’s hand and backing up, making way for her. Gesturing to the sarcophagus, he said, “Come and place your blessing on Ariel in her resting place.”

Taking the hint, Enoch and Andrew back off while Josephine stood, rolling Leila over next to the sarcophagus. Reaching out and gently laying her hand on the side of the magnificent metallic sarcophagus, Leila whispered emotionally, “Farewell sister. I hope you finally find rest.” Her eyes abruptly grew wide in surprise and she looked up with a start, once again seeing Ariel’s ghost, this time leaning down over the lid of the sarcophagus with a warm smile. It appeared as if Ariel had risen from inside the sarcophagus and was leaning out to greet her sister. At the same time, the temperature of the room significantly dropped. Gasps rose from some of the team as everyone saw Ariel’s specter leaning over looking Leila in the face.

Suddenly in a turn that even surprised Hannibal, Ariel’s ghost spoke ever so softly to Leila so everyone could hear, whispering, “Thank you, sis. I’m now free knowing you survived. Go, and be at peace as I am now, and know I will always be with you.” With that simple short farewell, Ariel’s spectral image wavered and dissipated like a fog dispersed by a warm wind.

Leila’s emotions broke again and she sobbed softly, saying, “Good bye dear sister. I promise the beast that did this to you will not escape justice.”

Hannibal patted Leila on the shoulder with a shocked but sober look. “It appears your sister made one last appearance to console you in your grief, Leila,” he said solemnly. “That shows how truly powerful her love is for you. She will always be with you now, so don’t grieve. Ariel will walk with you for the rest of your life as we make the Black Prince and the Emperor pay for what they did to her.”

Leila composed herself, the last bits of grief having finally been expunged. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she said softly, still choking on the residue of her grief, “Yes; it’s finished now. Both of us can rest, but can I ask one more thing of you, brother?”

“Anything,” Hannibal replied instantly. “Just name it.”

“Open her crypt and let me see her body,” Leila murmured insistently. “It’s the last thing I need to get full closure. I must see her with my own eyes.”

Hannibal’s eyebrow rose at the request. “Are you sure,” he asked bluntly, “Not to be disrespectful of the honored dead here, but you know she’s going to be nothing but bones like Thoth.”

Leila touched Hannibal on the hand with a pleading look in her eye. “Please, I have to see,” she begged. “And I know you do too. You have to know as much as I do. I can see it. Open the sarcophagus and let’s see my sister as she truly is so both of us can have closure.”

“Okay,” Hannibal conceded softly, “You do have a point. I need to see her with my own eyes, even if she’s nothing but a desiccated corpse. I have to know the truth of the Caverias line. I have to see for myself.”

“Do it,” Leila insisted. “I’m ready now.”

“Okay,” Hannibal answered soberly, glancing at the signet on his finger. “We’ll open her crypt and pay our proper respects. Besides, we were going to have to do it anyway to lay Thoth to rest with her since this is the royal sarcophagus. Prepare yourself to see the last physical remnants of your sister, Leila.”

“Go ahead, brother,” Leila ordered resolutely, “I’m ready this time. Open the sarcophagus.”

“Yes ma’am,” Hannibal answered with a resolute sigh, squatting down beside the signet socket in the side of the sarcophagus. He immediately noticed the socket was exactly like the one he’d encountered on Leila’s sarcophagus. Clenching his ring hand into a fist, Hannibal gently pushed the signet into the socket until it clicked. Uttering a silent apology to Ariel, he turned the signet clockwise a quarter of a turn until it stopped with a grating clunk. The sound of ancient tumblers rumbled briefly from the sarcophagus followed by visible movement from the lid as it rose slightly, breaking the millennia-long seal. It hissed as twelve and a half thousand-year-old air escaped the tomb that smelled stale and ancient air perfumed with the faint odor of unknown but pleasant-smelling herbs mixed with that of millennia-old desiccated death. The reek quickly dissipated as Hannibal stood, looking over the lid of the sarcophagus. It bore a stunning magnificent bas-relief depiction of the Caverias Seal spread across three-quarters of its surface. The Roc illustrated on the sarcophagus lid rivaled the artistry and detail of the Roc guardian at the entrance to the crypt.

Hannibal briefly took in the image and saluted it along with what he knew lay within, putting his fist over his heart. Every member of the team except Leila rose to their feet and saluted the sarcophagus in the same manner Hannibal did to show their respect, following his lead. Placing his hands firmly on the sarcophagus lid, he pushed and it slid open with buttery smoothness in the same manner Leila’s sarcophagus had done, sliding along the sarcophagus’ long axis. Stopping the lid half way, Hannibal briefly resisted the urge to gaze inside the sarcophagus. However, his curiosity quickly won out and he looked in. Upon gazing into the magnificent crypt, Hannibal instantly realized it truly was a double sarcophagus and that Thoth had indeed wished to be buried with his precious Ariel when he passed, who was truly lying there. His eyes grew wide and a gasp of reverential awe escaped his lips when he started taking in the entire view of the inside of the sarcophagus.

Ariel Caverias lay there wearing her golden ceremonial armor and a pure white linen dress underneath of it. It took less than a second for Hannibal to know that this was a true sarcophagus and not a machine like Leila’s sarcophagus was, though it was one of the most elaborate he’d ever seen. Its interior was lined with a deep sapphire blue velvet material speckled with actual diamond stars making it look like the night sky. Ariel rested on the right side of the coffin next to the signet latch. A golden mask of the most exquisite make inset with large emerald eyes lay over her face that was framed with long snow-white hair. Her ancient fingers, covered in silky golden gloves lay clamped around the handle of her sword, which rested on the center of her chest. Even in death, Ariel exuded an air of palatable royal nobility.

Hannibal stared in wonder at Ariel’s intoxicating beauty even death could not corrupt. When the shock of the sight wore off, Hannibal turned to Leila, asking softly, “Are you ready to see your sister, Leila, for here she is just as Thoth said in his last message.”

Leila nodded, saying solemnly, “Yes, I’m ready. Can you pick me up so I can see into the sarcophagus, Jo? I need to see my sister for myself.”

“Of course,” Josephine said softly. “We both need to see this.”

“That we do,” Leila agreed as Josephine picked her up and took her to the side of the sarcophagus where she could see Ariel’s body clearly. When she saw Ariel in her mask, she felt the knife of grief again turn in her gut, but she managed to keep her composure. Resting her hand on the open lip of the sarcophagus while looking in, Leila couldn’t contain her tears again. “Oh Ariel,” she moaned softly, sniffling. “At least Thoth allowed you the dignity of being interred in your full royal garb and armor. I hope you can truly rest now.”

“Amen,” Josephine agreed, trying to keep her composure. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop Bolthor from doing this to you. Please forgive me.”

“She already has,” Hannibal declared compassionately. “I know it. All three of you were victims of Bolthor’s treachery, and now after all these long millennia, you are together again one last time. I promise you the Emperor and the Black Prince will not escape the Lord’s justice for the wrongs they committed on you.”

“May we come see the blessed queen, milord?” Tau asked respectfully.

“Yes, you may all see her in her final repose and pay your respects as is proper,” Hannibal answered, “Come; see Ariel shining in death as she did in life. She’s truly a marvel to behold, even in death.”

The team gathered around and gasped in wonder at Ariel’s beauty as she lay in her final rest. “My god,” Thomas breathed, “She’s gorgeous beyond words!”

“Wow,” Ned cried in utter astonishment, “I’ve never seen such beauty in my entire life.” Many of the other team members mirrored what Thomas and Ned said about the fallen queen.

“I agree,” Tau said with the utmost respect, “Even death cannot hide her beauty and purity. We are so very honored to see this legendary queen like this. Thank you for allow us this most precious honor, milord.”

“You’re most welcome,” Hannibal replied as his curiosity about what lay beneath Ariel’s mask grew. “I’m glad to oblige you since you’ve proven worthy of such an honor. However, there’s on last thing I must see and so does Leila. We must see her true face.”

“Are you sure you should do that?” Tyr asked urgently after having gotten over the shock of seeing Ariel. “It’s not wise to disturb the dead, you know. Bad things happen to those who disturb the ancient dead laid to rest in this manner.”

“I understand your concern, Tyr,” Hannibal replied soberly, “But what I’m proposing is no desecration, nor do I intend to disturb her in any manner. All I want to do is reveal her face so we may know it’s truly her for in her present garb, it’s almost impossible to know who is lying here. Besides, Leila wished to look into Ariel’s face one last time and that’s what I mean to give her. Once we’re done, I will put the mask back and we will leave her to her rest.”

“There’s no desecration in what Beowulf wishes, my Cimmerian friend,” Assad stated, “As long as it’s done with the utmost respect to the fallen, it’s permitted. Only callous destruction of her body and pillaging of her possessions by an enemy would be considered desecration.”

“Oh, in that case I suppose it’s okay,” Tyr replied as he suddenly understood Assad’s meaning. “I know how dangerous it can be to upset the rest of the dead. I’ve seen it too many times in Cimmeria. They have a nasty tendency of cursing those who defile their rest.”

“I’m sure you have,” Hannibal stated, looking Tyr in the eye as he hovered over the open sarcophagus. “Your experience in such matters shows with your warning and it didn’t go unnoticed. However, as Assad said, if we do this respectfully and do not disturb her, it’s okay. All I want is to see her face, even if it is just a skull. The moment we know it’s truly her I will put the mask back and close the crypt until we return to lay Thoth at her side.”

“I can see no problem with that, milord,” Tyr replied. “Go ahead and reveal her face to us so we may see her as she is. It’s only proper we see her face to tend to her the proper respect.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself, my large Cimmerian friend,” Hannibal chimed as he leaned over, cautiously reaching for Ariel’s mask. Just as he was about to lift the mask from Ariel’s face, he hesitated and glanced at Leila, “Are you sure you’re up for this, Leila? If you aren’t, turn away now.”

“I’m ready,” Leila replied somberly, “It’s time to the end the cycle and close the circle.”

“Okay; here we go,” Hannibal said solemnly, gently lifting the mask from Ariel’s long dead face. All that was left was a skull covered in a thin veil of silvery fur-covered skin stretched taunt over the bone. All the flesh had long since vanished from the bones, just like Thoth and Ezra. It was obvious that she was Lynxian because of the shape of the head and the long canines that were present. Hannibal grimaced at the skull and bowed his head in reverence, saying, “Please forgive us, milady, for disturbing your rest. We will bring your man to you shortly.” He gently replaced the mask and sighed, declaring solemnly, “So have the mysteries of our origins been laid bare, bare as the bones of Thoth, Ariel, and Ezra. Can there be any doubts? Our past lies in this sarcophagus and sits on the throne above us. We are of the lines of great and mighty kings. Lynxians existed on this planet in the beginning. That’s why there are myths of cat creatures of fierce countenance and ruthless power in every great civilization that came after the Flood. Egypt, Sumer, Babylon, China, Greece, Rome, Mesoamerica, India, and all other great civilizations and peoples of the surface all have tales and myths of the cats that walked like men who possessed great knowledge as well as power. The truth is finally known. One mystery remains and that is how the Lynxians came here.”

Hannibal looked at Leila and stated, “In time, we may even know that too, but now is not the time. We have a lot of work yet to do. The keep has to be explored and cleansed of any residues left by the Darkness, particularly their remains. The machinery also needs to be found and secured. It’s here. The machinery of the Labyrinth may be alien and here first, but it’s not all that’s here. There’s other machinery of as great a power as the Labyrinth buried in this fortress. I can feel it down in my very bones. However, we must first place our noble ancestors in their proper place here within this crypt. We will even lay Ezra here with your permission, milady.”

Leila was very soft spoken as she replied, “It would be an honor to lay him in this hallowed place, milord. Thank you so much.”

Hannibal pulled the lid closed on Ariel’s sarcophagus, and re-latched it with the signet, saying, “Come, my friends. We have much to do. Enoch, Nemesis, you know what must be done.”

Enoch nodded as Josephine sat Leila back in her wheel chair, saying, “That I do, little brother.”

“If there’s any way we can help, do not hesitate to ask,” Tau offered.

“We can use all the help we can get, my friend,” Hannibal said with a sober smile. “Feel free to work with Enoch and Nemesis. They know what needs to be done.”

“We’d be honored to work with you, Lord Tau,” Nemesis stated sincerely with Enoch agreeing.

“In that case, let’s get to work,” Hannibal chimed, “Time’s a wasting. Wait a second, where’s the control console for the Labyrinth, Leila? You said it had the power to create a direct route to the entrance without having to go through the Labyrinth.”

“Oh, I forgot about that,” Leila replied in realization. “It should be on the wall where we came in here.” She quickly looked around and saw the three-foot square console on the wall where they’d entered the crypt. “There it is,” she declared, pointing to it. “It’s tied into the guardians and will allow us quick exit from this place.”

“Then let us make use of it,” Hannibal replied. “Come on. Let’s see this emergency exit.” Hannibal headed towards the console while Josephine and Tau moved Leila back to the main floor. In moments, they joined Hannibal at the console with the rest of the team.