The Chronicles of Ki
Book 1: In The Beginning
© Copyright 2024 Frank Walters Clark ~ All Rights Reserved
At the break of dawn, Lord Qox sits in the garden at the rear of his square, two-tiered home on the white cliffs overlooking Lake Ion. Sipping seasoned tinglee tea, he is admiring his wife’s beautiful flower beds.
The air is cool and quiet, freshened by showers overnight. Apsu is casting a marvelous, iridescent-hued bow across the sky.
At 02:00 hours, he acknowledged a angelic from the Royal Council of Twelve. One which delivered his royal commission and also ordered him to report for duty as soon as possible.
Unable to sleep, he filled the ensuing hours by reviewing his official royal military charter and donning his uniform. Packing his uniform standards and accessories, ribbons and medals included.
He says his good-journeys to his wife, who is sound asleep in the guest bedchamber. Then, at her sides, to his sweet twin grandchildren, Tharn and Esim.
In the distance the thunder of dozens of royal guard skyships launching rolls across the sky. Swelling in volume, the mighty vessels rise together above the horizon in a blinding, electrical display of power, and then veer off into space.
The angelic also reported, Lady Nols desired to meet with him before his departure for the airbase at the military garrison outside the city of Don. He is not surprised then, when the soft chimes of his front door sound, and a melodic voice quietly announces her royal presence.
Lord Qox greets Lady Nols at the open doorway. “I am privileged to have you visit my humble abode, my lady.”
She too, is dressed in the black-feathered, wing-caped uniform standard of the Annunaki Heroes. Her sleek horned helmet gleams in the porch light, and her black hair lies braided down the back of her neck. A square shoulder pack hangs crisscrossed on her back.
Lady Nols salutes him and smiles, then unshoulders her pack. “It is I who am privileged, uncle. Your home is beautiful.”
Lord Qox stands aside and sweeps an arm, guiding her to an elegant triangular grouping of gold satin-covered cushairs, bracketing a low, three-sided high-gloss wickwood table at the center. A bouquet of fresh-cut lilies, in a pale green pearlescent vase, stands amidst a bowl of fresh plums and a few children’s toys and e- tablets, left behind from the previous eve’s fun and games.
“May I draw a cup of coffee for you?”
“Yes, I would like that.”
While Lord Qox prepares the coffee service, Lady Nols sits in one of the cushairs and picks up an e-tablet and activates the screen.
“Ah-ha! The Tale of Bodispots. One of my favorite childhood picture books. Have your grandchildren solved the riddle yet?”
Lord Qox bends and pushes away a few of the toys, places the tray in the cleared space, then pours them each a cup of coffee.
Gesturing at the matching white ceramic cream-spout and sugar bowl, he sits to her left.
“Little Esim has, but Tharn is a bit slower, I am afraid.”
Lady Nols laughs, her eyes aglitter with memories.
“My brothers were just the same. Even though the younger of we three, I was always quicker to grasp my Sacred Shem instructionals…”
“…Can you believe it! A royal daughter, teaching the royal sons.”
A smile plays at Lord Qox’s lips, slipping in and out of fond memories in his own past. “I can. Your father and I were the much the same. Your aunt, Lady Ro, was not so accommodating, though. Torturess, I think would be the proper word.”
“Is she well?”
“She sleeps with the little ones. Good-journeys are hard for her.”
“Speaking of good-journeys.”
Lady Nols reaches for her pack and removes a e-tablature from it, then stands and hands it to Lord Qox. Serious and intent, she addresses him as his superior officer with requisite military formalities.
“Dal! Lord Major General. As a true and sworn angeline of our king, I have placed before you, royally signeted, blood-sealed dictums and stratagems.”
“In response to any challenges by forces of our enemy, the Black Gloves, this tablature will be your orders throughout. Martial your heroes, Lord Major General and carry on. Any questions?”
Standing erect and at attention, Lord Qox mentally shifts into his assignation.
“Dal! Lady Nols. No questions at the moment, however, I would make a short statement for the records.”
“Proceed, Major General Qox.” “From the moment of our first engagement, there can be no turning back, victory can be the only outcome. To that end, I troth my life.”
“Accepted, and sealed, Major General Qox.”
Lady Nols retrieves her pack and walks somberly with Major General Qox to the door, shifting into vapor mist. Turning to him, she reaches into her pocket and brings out an highly-burnished, bronze medallion suspended on a gold thread-trimmed, dark-blue silk fob.
“This will be your authority, Major General. Around your neck the face of our master, King Dal, will accompany you wherever you lead our Heroes.”
Lady Nols places the medallion over his head and lets it drop to his chest, then salutes him. “Dal! Major General Qox.”
“Dal! Lady Nols.”
Ceremonials complete, Major General Qox watches her lift off from the landing pad in his side yard.
And so it begins, he thinks.