As they approached, the old basilisk lifted his head. “Altreus?” he greeted the guard. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at your post at the sacred spring? And who are these Valefolk?”
“Apologies for disturbing you, Master.” The guard—Altreus, apparently—let out a long-drawn sigh. “The answers to those questions are all related, I’m afraid.” He gestured to Maldenis and Liora. “I caught them in the sacred spring. Together. Touching.”
“C-caught theminthe spring? Within the waters?” the old basilisk sputtered. “And you told them what this means?”
“Yes, Master Hiramus.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for bringing them here.” He turned to Maldenis and Liora. “What are your names?”
“Maldenis, son to Melora, born in the Eastern State,” he said. When Liora didn’t speak after, he nudged her with an elbow.
“Liora Chura,” she sputtered. “Uh, daughter to Pam and Robert. Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”
Master Altreus clasped his hands together. “It is noted for our records. Now, you two may go, with the blessing of the Council of the Wise. You carry the hopes and wishes of Solkarians, and we wish for you to have a healthy clutch by the next cycle.”
“C-clutch?” Liora’s arms wrapped around her middle. “Oh my gods, I really am going to be sick.”
Maldenis slithered forward. “Look, Master Hiramus is it? This is ridiculous! I’ve never even heard of this sacred spring, much less this legend that says whoever bathes in it has to get married. That’s total bullshit.”
Master Hiramus’s silvery tail whipped behind him as he slid out from behind his desk. “You dare call our ancestors bullshit?” He puffed out his chest as he rose up higher. “They built Solkaris, and we have them to thank for finding us a new home here in Vale Crossing when our kind was cast off.”
Maldenis refused to be intimidated by the other basilisk’s posturing, so he, too, positioned himself a few inches higher. “Our kind doesn’t even believe in marriage. And now just because we got into some so-called sacred spring we’re married?”
“Not now,” he said. “Did you explain it to him, Altreus?”
“Yes, Master Hiramus. At least, I explained that they completed the ritual and now they are bound together in marriage.”
“Which is, as I said, ridiculous,” Maldenis countered. “This isn’t even taught in school. How come I’ve never heard of this so-called sacred spring and marriage ritual?”
“It is a very old law,” Master Hiramus paused. “As you know, while our kind once thrived in the Upperworld, our numbers diminished once we reached Vale Crossing.”
Every basilisk child was taught their history, of how they once lived in harmony with humans on the Upperworld.However, the humans grew powerful over centuries and they grew fearful of the monsters, and so, they were all exiled. While every race and creature cast out of the Upperworld had lost something, the basilisks had perhaps suffered more than most.
In the Upperworld, their numbers thrived and they had even established colonies and outposts around the world, from the dry deserts of the Sahara to the shifting sands of the Gobi. But, according to their history books, barely two dozen families managed to cross the veil into their new home. No one knew why, perhaps it was because they were so spread apart that they could not pool their resources to make the journey easier. Or perhaps, because of their fierce appearance, the humans were scared of them and thus had more reason to eliminate them.
“And because we were so desperate to continue our race, we had to make some changes. Our ancestors declared that it was the sacred duty of every basilisk to produce offspring. Everyone was encouraged to spawn healthy clutches with multiple partners. And so over the centuries, our numbers once again flourished.”
“Exactly,” Maldenis interrupted. “And thus, we proved that we don’t need marriage and monogamy.” Basilisks had an abundance of resources and land, so there was no need to control their population either.
“But while our society may have changed,” Master Hiramus continued. “We still hold our old traditions as sacred. Our ancestors rebuilt the sacred spring, which was transported brick by brick, drop by drop, from our ancient capital to Solkaris. It is our most holy and precious inheritance from those that brought us here.” His eyes narrowed. “And also, the exact reason we keep the spring locked and guarded.” He raised one single bushy brow at them. “Why did you go in there in the first place? The fact that the entrance was hidden and guarded should have indicated that it was forbidden to go inside.”
Maldenis scratched at the back of his neck. “Er…”
Liora blew out a breath. “There has to be a way to reverse this right? We’re not married forever?”
“Of course not,” the master said. “We are not savages, young lady. Our ancestors knew that sometimes feelings change.”
“Hallelujah.” She clapped her hands together. “What do we need for a sacred spring divorce? Do we have to perform a ritual or something?”
“No, nothing that elaborate,” he said. “You simply must decide you are not suited and go your separate ways?—”
“Great!” Maldenis slapped a hand on his forehead and turned to Altreus. “And why didn’t you tell us that? You could have saved us all this trouble.”
“—for a year and a day,” Master Hiramus continued.
“A year and a day?” both Maldenis and Liora exclaimed at the same time.
“I have to stay married to this jerk for a whole year and day?” Liora shouted.
