Chapter TWENTY-ONE – The Palace City of Lysts


Chapter 21 - The Palace City of Lysts

The BoltBlade glided along its track at a constant speed of three hundred miles per hour. What was amazing to the Blade Masters for the first five minutes was now very boring. “I need to go,” said Haiku to her father. “You may have to hold it,” said Emhril. “There is a place she can go at the back of the compartment,” said Selene. Haiku undoes her seatbelt and leaves her seat to go to the restroom at the back. “Aw, you should not be touching Vivien’s chest,” said Haiku. “Don’t you have to go to the restroom?” said Jarody through his grinning teeth. “If we are going the wrong way, why don’t you try telling Pixie?” asked Zealot. Frustrated, Selene sits back on her seat and says, “Because the operator’s compartment is locked when the BoltBlade is moving. For safety reasons, Pixie needs to keep her attention on everything that is going on around us.” “So we are going to have to tell her to take us to Hellion when we get to the Palace City,” said Salem.

Rook was looking around the compartment and giving an annoyed squawk letting Selene know that she is not enjoying being in a small place that is not big enough to fly in. The HealthBlade stops in its tracks on the ceiling and begins to stare at Mal. Mal just turns his head to look outside to see that they were outrunning a flock of ducks heading the same direction. Mal would have continued to look out of the window but could see the HealthBlade’s reflection in the glass, still looking at him. “What do you want, you oversized fly catcher?!” yelled Mal causing everyone in the compartment to look at him. Haiku comes out of the restroom, “He is just trying to count the lice in your hair,” she said as she made her way back to her seat next to her father. “He has lice?” asked Wayne before crossing the aisle to sit alone on the other side of the compartment. “Very common with people who work very closely with horses,” said Selene “How about Pawn? He is always on Salem’s neck, would Salem be getting lice from him?” asked Mal, snapping back. “No, I keep Pawn clean and his fur is combed,” said Salem with Pawn giving a squeak that sounded like a “So there.”

The BoltBlade enters a tunnel and resurfaces only three minutes away from the Palace City. The population of the Palace City is sixty percent made up of politicians and ambassadors of nearby countries. The Palace City is also the only city in the country of Lysts that had electricity in every building and home although the use of the power is very limited due to the lack of technological advances on Colloquy. The energy is mostly used to light the city and for heating. The power is generated by the BoltBlade as it passes over metal rods inside the guideway; the power generated is collected and stored for later use. Before the power was being collected, sections of the guideway were exploding or melting. Philosophers had determined that it was a build-up of energy that was causing this and developed the storage device. It was King Abbot who found the use for the stored energy and had the entire city wired to use this surplus. A large warehouse outside the Palace City is where the energy is stored and as things are, there is enough energy to keep the city lit for another hundred years even if the BoltBlade stopped running. Thirty percent of the city’s population are philosophers. Other worlds call them scientists. Because the Palace City is the only city with power, philosophers move here to use the energy for their research and exploratory experiments. The use of electric light also means that their research does not have to stop just because the sun goes down. The last ten percent of the city’s population are the families of the politicians and philosophers as well as the Royal Family who lives in the Palace in the center of the city.

The BoltBlade starts to slow down as Pixie’s voice is heard once again on the speaker, “We are arriving at the Palace City of Lysts. Please return to your seats, buckle up, and put your tray tables back in a closed position.” “What? We have tray tables?!” said Jarody as he opened the one in front of him. The BoltBlade slows to eighty miles per hour and touches down onto the guideway and begins to roll into the Palace City Blade Port. The Blade eventually slows to a stop and the locks click into place securing the Blade. “We have come to a full stop. You may now exit to the left. Thank you for riding BoltBlade One and enjoy your stay in the Lysts Palace City. The Blade Masters leave the train with Rook taking the lead, flying out the door and back into the clear blue sky. Mal with the HealthBlade on his back searching and killing the lice in his hair, goes to the back to check on the MobilBlade. Vivien buttons up her uniform and follows Jarody up the aisle as Jarody opened every tray table along the way before exiting. The GullBlade also takes to the sky as soon as Christina exits the BoltBlade. Pixie exits the front car to be met by workers of the Blade Port to give her route revisions and a large cup of green tea. “Pixie,” called Selene as she approached her, “Pixie, there has been a mix up. We wanted to go to Hellion to meet up with James.” “Well Jimmy will have to wait. The King wants to see you,” said Pixie, “I’m sorry but Knight gave me your letter while I was with him. He heard me read the letter and insisted that I bring you here first. He is the one who is paying to keep the guideway in good repair and my pay check, I couldn’t say no.”

Mal is backing the MobilBlade out of the BoltBlade and onto the off ramp that leads out to the street in front of the Blade Port. “So what is the plan, Selene?” asked Jarody in a very sarcastic way. “Salem and I have to go to King Abbot,” said Selene, “the rest of you can just get what ever you need for the long sea voyage we will take after we leave the Palace City.” “Where do we meet?” asked Emhril. “We will meet back here at sundown. Pixie said that will be her last trip from here to Hellion,” said Salem. “Good enough for me. Come on Christina, I see a cheap hotel over there,” said Jarody. “Sorry, Jarody, if you forgot, today is Sunday and I must go to church,” said Christina. “My daughter and I are going to find a place to eat and stock up on some fresh food,” said Emhril. I’m going to take Sturmer for a walk outside the city limits and practice with my SabreBlade,” said Zealot. Vivien wrote in her PDA, “I shall go with Christina to church. I always wanted to see what it was like.” “Bring a pillow, Vivien,” said Salem. “Carber is busy with Mal,” said Haiku. “In that case I guess I will go along with Emhril and make sure he doesn’t forget to get beer,” said Jarody. “I’ll go with Emhril and Jarody,” said Wayne. At that time, the MobilBlade comes around the corner and stops where the group was. “We are meeting back here at sundown, Mal,” said Selene. “I’ll find a stable and get the horses fed and watered,” said Mal. The Blade Masters went their separate ways.

Jarody and Wayne start walking to the closest pub with Emhril and Haiku falling behind. “Jarody, if you don’t mind me asking, why were you with Vivien? I thought you wanted Christina.” said Wayne. “I’m still after Christina.” said Jarody, “In fact, my plan is to nail Christina first, then Vivien. You see, Christina will take some more work before I can get her. I’ll wait for my dear sisters, Selene and Salem, to be occupied with something else.” “And Vivien?” asked Wayne. “Vivien will do me anytime, even after I nailed Christina.” said Jarody, “Now, if I nail Vivien first, I’ll lose my chance with Christina. I’m not an idiot.” “Are you only after Christina because of the size of her knockers?” asked Wayne. “Well, YES. What kind of question is that? There is no one else on this stupid planet with a chest like hers,” said Jarody.

Sturmer had just put the finishing touches on the tank tracks and closed the door under the MobilBlade. Zealot called Sturmer and they began to walk to the closest gate leading out of the city as Mal with the HealthBlade in his hair, gave the horses the go signal and started looking for a stable. Vivien and Christina are walking around the streets and Vivien continues to enjoy the sun on her face and skin. “You do not look like you are tanning much,” said Christina. Vivien takes out her PDA and writes, “I don’t think I’ll ever tan.” “By the way,” said Christina, “Where did you go when we were watching the last fight back at Barter?” Vivien writes, “I was hungry, I had to catch something to eat.” “Wow, you chose a good time for it. A lot of people died on that day. I do not think anyone would have noticed.” said Christina. Vivien writes in her PDA, “Speaking about conquests, you do know that Jarody is looking to get into your pants.” “I know. I like the attention,” said Christina. “He wouldn’t even go into my pants, he just played with my boobs.” wrote Vivien. “We should really pull his manhood by sleeping with each other when we know he will catch us together,” The two laughed with Vivien not being able to make the sound of laughter but still looking as if she was laughing hard.

The Gemini Twin HexBlade Masters, Salem and Selene walk the paved street leading up to the Royal Palace where King Abbot waits for them. The King is a real breath of fresh air. Selene and Salem first met him when they were members of The Raptor Pack. DarkRaptor had helped him and his followers overthrow a general who declared military rule over Lysts and was leading the country with an iron fist. Salem and Selene continued to see Abbot even after DarkRaptor’s death. It was almost a year after DarkRaptor’s death when the twins made the MonarchBlade and presented it to the King as a gift. They were surprised when it actually chose Abbot as its master. The MonarchBlade was the hardest blade ever to make. The twins did not know what it was turning out to be when they were making it as they worked the small amount of metal and shaped it until it started to take shape and form perfectly. The twins learned long ago that Blades have a destiny to fill in this world. To force a Blade to take a shape or a form that it was not intended to be would only bring misfortune and in some cases the Blade would strike back with a curse. The twins eventually mastered the art of turning raw Blade metal into weapons or the forms they were predestined to be. The MonarchBlade turned out to be a Tech Blade class Companion Blade in the form of a butterfly. The metal wings of the MonarchBlade were so thin; it could cut the skin with very little effort. The twins found that just handling the MonarchBlade the wrong way will cut you. The MonarchBlade’s wings also changed color depending on the mood of the person it was fluttering over. The MonarchBlade’s wings also turned white if the person was being truthful and black if the person was being deceptive. It is the MonarchBlade that made King Abbot a very successful leader for he knew what emotions people who were speaking to him were feeling and if they were being truthful or deceptive.

The twins were close to the gates of the Palace and were walking the street that led around to the entrance. There were all sorts of strange goings on in the buildings and homes on the opposite side of the street. The twins could only guess that this part of town was where the philosophers have set up their laboratories to work on their research. Inside the Palace were over a thousand staff members and servants to care for the Royal family of five. King Abbot, Queen Samantha, Princess Darvol, Princess Lily, and the youngest Royal, Prince Joe, or as he wants to be called these days, Joe Cool. The twins finally make it to the entrance in time to witness the changing of the guard. The head of security was there to oversee the guards for the change. Salem and Selene had known Raphael for many years but the debate went on whether Raphael was male or female. Regardless of Raphael’s sexual confusion, she or he was a very skilled and talented head of security. Nothing ever got past Raphael. The Abbot was very wise to hire the person. The twins invited Raphael to visit the Temple of the Blades to see if a Blade would chose him or her, however Raphael always declined not wishing to leave the city in case someone might try and attack while he or she was away. It truly was hard to tell the person’s sex. Just when you figured it out, Raphael would do something that will make you think twice. But Raphael was just part of the hired help compared to another resident of the Palace. The mysterious Keeper, Only known as The Keeper is King Abbot’s must trusted friend and advisor. The Keeper was named so because he kept nearly all the secrets of Lysts as well as other information. Salem and Selene learned, if you want information from him, it is pointless to beat around the bush, just ask the Keeper, even if you do not think he knows.

The changing of the guard was complete, meaning it was now clear to enter the Palace. The twins approach Raphael. “Salem, Selene, we’ve been expecting you,” said Raphael, “King Abbot is holding court in the throne room right now. Follow me.” The twins followed Raphael past the front gates and up the long walkway to the drawbridge. “Look at the way she is walking, men do not walk like that,” whispered Salem. “But how do you explain the Gin Knot in his neck and his voice? He IS a man,” whispered Selene. “I could sound like that,” said Salem. Look at her hands, her fingers are slender and elegant. She is a woman.” whispered Salem. “Men can have small slender hands,” said Selene. “How about Raphael’s uniform? Does it not look more like a dress than something a man would wear?” asked Salem. “It is a uniform. Everyone in his position would probably be wearing the same thing,” said Selene. “It did not look anything like the guards at the gate,” said Salem. “They are not head of security,” said Selene. The three pass over the drawbridge that was over the dark water where large, almost snake like sharks swam, ready to attack and devour anyone foolish enough to try and swim the mote to the wall on the other side. Raphael leads the twins into the courtyard where the royal horses were kept as well as the training ground for the palace guards. Princess Darvol was in the courtyard brushing the mane on a white Desert Charger. “In two weeks, Princess Darvol will be of age and will have to choose a husband,” said Raphael. “Would you be a possible suitor, Raphael?” asked Salem. “Are you kidding? I can’t be a suitor,” said Raphael. Salem nudged Selene’s side, “Eh? Eh?!” “I’m not royalty. Princess Darvol has to choose a royal suitor.” said Raphael. “See,” whispered Selene. From the courtyard, Raphael led the twins to the large doors that went into the throne room. There was a line of people waiting to see King Abbot by appointment or to air a grievance.

A guard approached them. “King Abbot is expecting these two. Take them to him at once.” ordered Raphael. “Yes Raphael,” said the guard. Raphael turned and headed back outside as the guard led the twins past the line and into the large room with tapestries of purple and gold hanging off the large windows with a great view of the Palace City far below. At the far end of the room was King Abbot himself. “I was not there!” said a small man with two large guards behind him. Above the small man was the MonarchBlade, its wings were white. “Yes, it is true you were not there, that is not why I had you brought in. What I had brought you in for is the benefits you are now enjoying because of the death of that family.” said King Abbot. The wings of the MonarchBlade start to flicker yellow. “Uncertainty is flowing around you,” said the King, “Answer this question as truthfully as you can. Did you have a hand in the murder of the Polaris Family?” The man’s eyes went wide as the MonarchBlade turned a sickly yellow showing the man was now overcome by fear. “Answer my question,” ordered the King. “No, I had nothing to do with the murder,” said the man. The MonarchBlade wings turned Black. “You lie! You did have something to do with their murder and I bet it might have to do with hiring someone to do the deed!” yelled the King, “Guards, take him away!”

“King Abbot, the Twin Blade Masters, Selene and Salem.” announced the guard. “Salem and Selene, How nice of you to come!” said King Abbot now sounding a lot happier then he did when questioning the man before. “We are overjoyed,” said Salem. “Aw, you are angry with me,” said King Abbot. The Twins look up to see the MonarchBlade over them, red wings dissolving into spots of flickering yellow and mottled orange telling the King that they are frustrated. “Was your idea to give him the thing,” said Salem. “How was I supposed to know what it did other then flutter around?” asked Selene. “Not only did we make it, it is now being used against us,” said Salem. “My friends, I am sorry I took you away from something, but I need your opinion and expertise as makers of Blades.” said the King. “With all due respect Abbot, We are on Temple business to recover the KingBlade and we only have one clue to work with.” said Selene. “We were on our way to Hellion to meet up with Captain James T. Koror to take us to Cragorus so we may ask an old friend for information that may lead us to where we could find the KingBlade and return it to the sacred chamber.” said Salem. “Wow… You said that with one breath,” said the King, “I’m very sure Jim wouldn’t mind waiting for you to arrive.” “But Abbot, our mission is very time sensitive, I am not sure how much more time we have before the KingBlade is used against all Blade Masters, including yourself,” said Selene. “What I have planned will not take much time and I promise you will be on the last BoltBlade to Hellion today,” said King Abbot. The twins could no longer find any objections and fell silent as the King enjoyed his little victory.

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