The Riddle of the Jade Collar

“So you are some of the twelve that have been feared for all these years,” he sniffed in disgust as he said the words. “I have told the Defenders that there was nothing to fear. I have told them that the twelve would come again and that they should be captured—that we would prevail. Now here you are,” he sniffed again. 

“And these,” he sneered as he reached out toward Eridani’s Jewel, “are the great Stones of Power that the twelve will wear.” His finger touched the jade-like Stone on Eridani’s tunic—there was a flash of light; a bang; and his hand was snapped back away from the Stone by the force of the blast. 

Anger crossed his face and flared from his eyes, and then the anger was gone—he smiled. “But we have gotten off on the wrong foot—we should be friends. As you can see; I have asked the guard to leave so we can talk. I mean you no harm; some may have told you other stories but do not believe them. Tell me your names, but first let me tell you mine. I am Natiahs; I am leader of the Defenders who are established to defend you and the people from evil. We have awaited your return for many years after you were driven away by the evil one.” He sneered the last words as he said them. 

Alric sat forward just a bit, “We were not driven away from here; we left by mistake. It was our fault, not Ozmandius’ fault.” 

A flash of anger crossed Natiahs’ face, but was gone almost immediately, “Oh ho,” he laughed, “so our history of what happened is wrong; is it? I guess then you had better tell me all about it and I will teach the people the truth.” 

Amaya had seen the anger flash across his face and then disappear. She knew he was hiding his evil side from them—at least he was trying to. The Stone on her tunic felt heavy as she sat there and listened to this man talk to them. No; that was not right—she could see something else—this thing standing before them was not a man, but she didn’t know what he/it was. Then she remembered what her Stone allowed her to see—the Jinn. This Natiahs must be one of the Jinn. 

“So,” continued Natiahs, “shall we be friends then. I told you my name; what are your names,” he asked? He pointed to Alric who still sat forward, his face stern as he listened to Natiahs speak. 

“I don’t think I want to tell you my name,” said Alric. “You say you want to be our friend, but you don’t mean it. You have no trust in you—I can feel it.” There was a flash of light from his Stone as he said the last. “See,” he said! “Even my Stone agrees that you are not a friend—you are not someone we should trust!” Alric jutted his chin out and said nothing more. 

Natiahs face twisted with the anger he was trying to hold back. “You—you little brat—how dare you speak to me like that.” This had slipped out before Natiahs could restrain his anger. He stopped and wiped his hand across the air in front of himself, “I apologize for my words; you don’t know me yet—I forget that. You saw a person who you thought was a friend arrested and treated badly in front of you—he was actually a rebel seeking to overthrow our land and hand it over to a monster from some far realm. They call themselves the Ozmandians after that awful creature. They have probably told you stories about me and the Defenders—saying bad things about us. I can assure you that whatever they told you is not true. I am a good man and a good leader, and the Defenders seek to defend this land from evil.” 

Alric stuck his chin out a little farther. “Humph,” he muttered under his breath. 

Now Amaya stood up—she was much shorter than Natiahs—she looked up at him—straight at him. “You are no man,” she said! “You are one of the Jinn. Don’t talk to us about Ozmandius being some evil monster from a far realm, when that is what you are!” The Stone on Amaya’s tunic flared a flash of light as she called Natiahs a Jinn. “See; my Stone confirms what my young companion said—you are not someone we can trust. You are not a friend to us.” 

Natiahs could no longer hold his anger back—it is in the nature of evil spirits to be easily provoked, and now Natiahs had all he could take. He struck Amaya across the face with his hand—a slap. It was hard enough that it knocked her back to the seat.