Page 86 of When Eden Falls

Under sceptically drawn eyebrows, Rooke said, “What is he?”

“He is an Akquarian-Igknamai hybrid.”

More chills of concern and repugnance shivered through me simulating cold electricity. I watched Llexzus agilely climb the dais in one swift step, taking the seat Havav had just abandoned. He intermittently grumbled sentences at Dybgo, who snarled back short, one-word answers. I couldn’t help thinking they were bickering, like brothers or friends, but Dybgo’s face expressed a true distaste for the creature lounging in Havav’s throne.

“How? Why?” Rooke asked abruptly. “Is he dangerous?”

“On the contrary. He protects my farmers and hunters, my people who need to venture near or into the forest. He has the ability to calm and control any Igknamai who come into close proximity. The same command as the devils themselves.”

“So, there are more like him?”

“No, he is unique. He’s half Akquarian. The others aremonsters.”

And he isn’t?

“Does he have any interaction with the others?” Rooke went on.

“No.”

“But he can control the beetles?”

“Yes.”

Rooke continued to ask questions, but my attention kept drawing to Dybgo and Llexzus’ conversation. Llexzus lounged in Havav’s throne, an ankle laying across the opposite knee. Both wrists dangled over the arm rests, as if he was bored by everything that was occurring. He continued to smirk, occasionally exposing his elongated canines, which were far longer than the standard Akquarians. His evil, dark eyes taunted me as he flicked his attention from Dybgo to Rooke, to me, and back again.

“I need my ship, Havav!” Rooke’s comment pulled me back to his and Havav’s conversation. “If you believe they have it, where can I find these Igknamai leaders?”

Havav chuckled. “Commander, you have too many questions.”

“Where are they located?”

The bickering between Dybgo and Llexzus continued, and an irritable expression crossed Havav’s face as he clocked it. He shot a harsh glance towards them. “Will you two stop it!” he barked, followed by more words voiced in Akquarian. Both fell silent, and Havav turned back to Rooke. “We do not know where they are located. Their lair has never been discovered, but we presume it’s in the forest.”

“The forest?” I mumbled, and Rooke looked over his shoulder at me. Following my train of thought, Rooke asked, “Are they intelligent enough to use subspace technology?”

Havav shrugged, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, that is something I certainly do not know.”

Rooke turned around, lowering his voice so only Oz and I could hear. “If these Igknamai controllers are as intelligent as we fear, they must have been the ones who lured the scouting shiphere. We need to warn Allura.”

“How? We have no ship, no radio.”

We all looked back towards Havav, who was shooing Llexzus out of his throne. Rooke stepped forward. “If our ship is in the forest, we require a guide, some warriors,” he pointed towards Llexzus standing beside Havav, “and him.”

Relaxing back into his throne, Havav shook his head. “No. We have done all we can for you. I will continue to provide you with the hospitality you’ve been receiving. You can stay here as long as you wish. We enjoy your company. But I cannot offer you anymore.”

“We’d only need…”

“It’s suicide!”

“You said Llexzus can control the Igknamai.”

“The beetles, not the devils.”

I watched Rooke’s head hang to the floor, his hands resting on his hips. He was distraught, his hope of getting home depleted. Havav seemed content in allowing us to stay here, but to what cost? We wanted to go home.

“I’ll take them,” Dybgo’s voice echoed around the room. I peered up, witnessing the pointed look Havav threw his way.

A brief, complex discussion in Akquarian was exchanged between the two, resulting in Havav huffing, Dybgo frowning, and Llexzus chuckling to himself.