ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (20 page)

At sunrise, Akasha stood on the temple roof watching Meldric and two hundred soldiers ride out of the city. His anger had boiled over into a stone cold determination. At dusk, he came down to the Meditation room where all the rahis had been all day fasting and chanting.

‘Sons, today you’ve become brothers. It’s time.’ he said from the entrance and walked towards the exit of the temple. The rahis followed him. They chanted as they walked, knives in their hands and their faces set. Guards barricaded the exit.

‘Great Father,’ said the guard in charge, ‘the king orders--’

‘I am your king.’ Akasha said, stabbing him in the neck. The guards attacked but the rahis stabbed all the guards in their way. They grew bolder with everyone they stabbed, while the rahais knelt over the bodies with hands raised in prayer, offering the dead men as sacrifices to the gods.

Akasha led the riotous procession to the palace. They killed anyone in their way, shouting ‘For Machish.’ People ran in different directions screaming.

‘Fight for your gods.’ Akasha said to his men as they got to the palace. The palace guards stood on the walls with arrows ready. The arrows were fired, killing some rahis in the way. Akasha raised his staff, generating wind from it.

‘For Machish.’ he said and threw it at them, crumbling the walls and knocking down the gate. The rahis ran in, killing every soldier from the injured to the ones with their swords ready. Akasha passed the fight, using his powers to knock down anyone who stood against him. He got into the castle and went to the court. Rinosius stood alone in the middle of the hall.

‘It seems Galian has abandoned you, old friend.’ Akasha said, moving forward.

‘I was expecting you.’ he said, smiling. ‘I want to tell you why I’m still alive. When you killed me, I woke up in another body, in the body of a blind beggar boy and I realized it was because of an unforgivable sin I committed here, in this court. I turned to Galian for help but he gave me only the gift of foresight. I have lived for a long time, hoping my life would end--’

‘Then I’ll make it quick.’ Akasha stabbed him in the heart. ‘Die like the beggar that you are.’

‘Thank you for taking my curse.’ Rinosius said and closed his eyes. His body went limp and Akasha let him drop to the ground.

‘No!’ Akasha said, staring at his hands. The parts of his hands that were stained with Rinosius’ blood turned black. He watched it spread to his veins.

‘No.’ he said again. Some rahis came into the room. ‘What is it, Great Father?’ Akasha stared at them with a lost look on his face and said, ‘We have won.’

He staggered and limped to the king’s throne and sat down. ‘I am king. It’s time for the priests to rule.’ The rahis cheered. Akasha looked down at his hands again. It was spreading up his wrists.

‘Brothers,’ he said, ‘start the incantations before the soldiers come. Cover the city and the palace. No one must get through.’

Nothing was going to stop his immortality.
Nothing.

Even without seeing, Natalia knew where she was. The way the wind milled around her told her that she was on top of the Cloud Hill close to Helmford.

The darkness cleared and she saw a man standing close to the cliff with his back turned towards her. His brown hair flapped against the wind and his muscled arms glistened against the descending, deepening orange sun. In his hand was a sword. She knew the blade, it had slid past her face many times and had tasted her blood.

‘Alcon.’ she said. Her trainer turned. He had a scowl on his face.

‘Who are you?’ he said.

She was taken aback by the question. ‘You don’t recognize your princess?’

‘I was blinded by the fear in your eyes.’

‘There are many things that have frightened me.’

‘And weakened you. You let them catch you in the woods and you’ve been like a lost dog ever since. What did I teach you about fear?’

‘Fighting with fear is worse than flight, but--’

‘Don’t tell me about your pain. I trained a warrior, not a princess. Instead, tell me what you have done with it.’

‘I have survived.’ she said, raising her voice in defiance.

‘Is that an achievement? Your survival is not based on you. You know nothing of the people around you. All you are is a princess in a tale.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Don’t let being a princess be your misfortune when you are about to lose the throne.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Pick up your sword.’

She looked down and saw her sword lying before her. She picked it up.

Alcon held up his sword and said, ‘What did I tell you about your enemies?’

‘Look at them in condescension but never lose sight of who they are.’ she said, raising her sword.

‘Which means?’ he asked. She said nothing but attacked, running towards him with her sword poised to strike his sword arm. He blocked her first swing with his sword, kicked her aside with his foot and slashed her arm.

‘Which means?’ he said again. Natalia looked at her blood trickling out and attacked again.

‘Control your emotions.’ he said as their swords clashed, ‘Anger itself can be as bad as fear.’ He knocked her down. She lay panting and she looked up at him. She could feel the anger coursing through her body as she saw his lips curve upwards. He was toying with her like he used to do. At that moment, she saw how pitiful she looked in his eyes and she realized the answer to his question.

She got up and said, ‘It means be the god in their eyes.’ She attacked again, but this time she did not fear his blade, nor did she blind her mind with rage. She anticipated his every move, even his dislike of touch and fighting breath to breath. She saw his leg shoot out when their swords were clashed. She gave him some space, slashed his knee with her sword and disarmed him when he was still in shock.

‘Good.’ he said, when her sword was on his neck. ‘Now jump.’

‘Jump where?’

‘If you are everything you say you are you must jump the cliff.’ he chuckled and added, ‘If the princess cannot make it, no one can.’

She looked ahead and saw another hill materialize from nothing surrounded by clouds. It had a gate close to its cliff.
She could make the jump to that hill
. She moved back a few paces, then ran forward and jumped. She found herself holding the gate while standing on the cliff. The ground beneath her disappeared, leaving her hanging on the gate. Then the gate and the world tilted downwards, leaving her with no balance. Above her was the gate she hung from and beneath her was fire. Moving skeletons were in the fire, making eerie cries as they watched her dangle. Some jumped, trying to grab hold of her and pull her down. Fear submerged her. She looked up at the gate for help. The world behind the bars looked balanced, it had sky, and nothing was tilted. Someone in a golden cloak stood at the gate, his head was turned so she couldn’t see his face.

‘Help me please.’ she said. ‘Open the gate.’

The person turned to her and she gasped. She saw her face staring down at her.

‘Who are you?’ said the image of herself in her voice.

‘I’m Princess Natalia of Helmford.’

‘No, you’re not. If you were you would be within the gate, so who are you?’

‘I am Natalia, the heir of Anundr.’ she cried. The gate opened and an invisible force propelled her up and through the gate. She found herself on the grass as the gate slammed shut.

‘Thank you.’ she said, panting. The figure turned to her. She jerked herself backwards. Its face was veiled but its eyes were like fire and they burned into hers. It glided towards her, beneath its robes were no feet.

Natalia crawled backwards. ‘What are you?’

The creature’s voice was like rushing water. Every part of her trembled with recognition as it said, ‘We are the one inside the talisman.’

‘What do you want?’

‘We want to help you.’

‘Who are
we
?’

‘We are one and we are seven. Come?’ it said and glided past her towards a well in the middle of the hill. Natalia found herself rising and walking towards it without fear. The creature had taken away her fear. Her eyes caught the symbol of a triangle engrafted on the well. The symbol glowed as she came near. She looked up, meeting the creature’s gaze.

‘You have questions for me.’ it said.

‘If you really are the voice in the talisman, then you must know why I’m in Naphdael.’

‘It is meet for you to be there.’ it said and threw a pail into the well. Voices came out from it. Natalia looked in and saw people crying for help. The creature moved back. Natalia turned to it and said, ‘Aren’t you going to help them?’

‘We cannot, that’s why you must help them. We can only assist you. Put out your hand over the well.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you must learn to use your powers.’

‘What powers?’

The creature sighed and said, ‘It is as we feared. You are ignorant. Your predecessor told you nothing.’

‘Who is he?’ Natalia asked.

‘When you face the killer of the Innocent, your predecessor shall appear giving you strength.’

‘What do you mean? Who is the killer of the Innocent? How do I find him and the Anundr?’

‘You’ve already found them.’

‘If I knew who the Anundr is I wouldn’t be in Naphdael.’

‘That’s why you do not know yet. You were fated to help the people of Naphdael and rid them of their scourge.’

‘What scourge?’

‘There are people who wish to destroy them and turn them into nothing.’

‘How do I help them?’

‘By knowledge.’

‘How would that save my mother's life?’

‘You’re not the one that can save her.’

‘Then who will? I saw her dying. The Anundr didn’t keep his promise.’

The creature laughed and said, ‘As long as the powers of Galian still flows and the Anundr still walks the earth, you will see your mother again.’

Natalia took a deep breath and made three quick raps on the polished mahogany door. Two guards stood at the posts but they acted like statues and didn’t interfere. There was no response at the other end. She stretched her fingers and waited, remembering Anistral’s words to her that morning before they parted ways.
Don’t get into trouble and don’t lose your temper.
It seemed harder to do just because it had been said. Natalia closed her eyes and took a deep breath again, counting in her mind as she poised her knuckles to hit the door again.

The door swung open before she finished counting. She was taken aback to see Seraphin’s old nurse staring at her. She was a tall woman with a long neck which appeared longer because of her dark robes that showed no skin except her bird-like face.

‘You’re late. This is not the way of a lady-in-waiting.’

‘Forgive me, I--’

‘Ah! Your dress.’ Her small lips were parted in horror.

‘Is there something wrong?’ Natalia said, looking down to examine her new cream dress.

‘Everything is wrong--your hair, your dress--I didn’t know I had to teach you everything.’ She heaved a sigh. ‘Come with me, child. We’ll start from the beginning.’

Prasima led her down the stairs to the servants’ quarters and brought her to the dressing room.

‘I don’t understand.’ Natalia said. ‘What’s wrong with my dress?’

‘It’s too pretty for a lady-in-waiting.’

‘Too pretty, you say?’

‘Yes.’ Prasima said as she shuffled through a wardrobe for clothes. ‘You must look plain so you never outshine the princess. With a face like yours, we may need more work.’

She presented her with two dresses; one was black and the other was dark grey, but both were dull-looking and would show no skin. Natalia felt their fabric. Both were made of coarse wool.

‘These are ugly.’ she said.

‘Watch your mouth. They are plain, not ugly. Now make haste and wear one.’

Natalia picked the black one and went behind the dressing board to change.

‘How long have you been working for the royal family?’ she asked Prasima to fill up the silence.

‘Since I was your age. It’s been one of the most fulfilling times in my life. One day, it will be you taking my place.’

‘I hope not.’ Natalia said under her breath.

‘What did you say?’

‘Oh, nothing.’ she said, tucking the talisman beneath her dress.

‘Hurry, so we can work on your hair.’

Prasima arranged Natalia’s hair into a tight bun and rearranged her dress, tugging at the fabric to straighten it. When she was satisfied with Natalia’s plainness, they returned to Seraphin’s chambers.

Prasima knocked on the door and opened it. Natalia walked into the room behind her. Seraphin still lay in bed, rubbing her temples. Her hair hung loose in curly tangles and her skin was pale.

‘Good morning, my lady.’ Natalia said, bowing.

‘What is good about it when my breakfast hasn’t been served and I am yet to be dressed for the day? What is your name again?’

‘E-Eyan.’ she said and bowed her head. Her hands were shaking.
She needed to calm down.
Seraphin got off the bed and walked towards her.

‘Turn around.’ she said. Natalia did so.

‘Hmmm…plain and old. The look suits you.’ she said, giggling. She sat down on a chair and stretched a comb to Natalia. ‘Comb my hair.’ Prasima approached.

‘No.’ said Seraphin. ‘I want her to do it.’

Natalia walked to her and took the comb. The hair was a tangled mess. She started from the top.

‘Not from there, you fool! From the ends.’ she said, hitting her hand.

Natalia dropped the comb in shock. ‘Forgive me.’

‘You’re useless. Get my food.’

Natalia walked to the door, then turned back to them.

‘Why are you still standing here?’ said Seraphin.

‘Where am I supposed to go?’ Prasima mouthed the word ‘Kitchen’ but it was too late.

‘Are you--’

‘The kitchen.’ Natalia said, interrupting her, ‘Where is that?’

Prasima said, ‘At the servants’ quarters downstairs, down the corridor.’

‘Thank you.’ she said and hurried out as Seraphin shouted, ‘Useless.’

Natalia clutched her chest. She had never felt so idiotic in her life. She returned to the servants’ quarters and went down the hall. The aroma and the servants coming out with trays of food told her she was in the right place. She opened the double doors and saw women in white clothes over pots while a man stood at the far end skinning a goat. The noises in the kitchen were clanging pots, loud chatter and bustling fires. A young woman stood closest to her humming as she worked her hands into some dough.

‘Forgive me.’ Natalia said to catch her attention. The woman turned. She had a face that couldn’t be described as plain, though her eyebrows were thin and her round face was pink from the smoke, she looked more pretty than plain.

‘What is it?’ she said.

‘I’m here for Princess Seraphin’s food.’

‘I’ve never seen your face around here before.’ she said as she kneaded the dough. ‘It’s usually an old owl coming to get her food.’

‘She’s her nurse. I’m starting today as her lady-in-waiting.’

‘Aye, Ma’am,’ she said, calling a matronly cook standing over a large pot, ‘the pretty fox has new help.’

‘Aye. You came for her food?’ the woman asked, squinting at Natalia.

‘Yes.' Natalia turned to the younger woman, 'You call the princess a pretty fox?’

‘It’s all in good sport.' she said, rolling the dough. 'Ma’am says
pretty
is for a young lass, while
beautiful
is for an older one.’

‘Why?’

The cook spoke as she arranged the tray of food, ‘Because older lasses have more character in their features and more maturity, like piglets and pigs.’

‘Like the queen?’

‘No,’ the cook said, ‘this queen is plain but the other one was such a beauty that one.’

‘What happened to her?’

‘Who can say? Some say she died but I don’t believe it. It’s all hush hush now. We shouldn’t be talking about it.’

The younger lady laughed. ‘Don’t mind old ma’am. She’s so full of stories. My name is Emelie.’

‘I’m Eyan.’

‘I hope you would join us for supper later.’

‘I would be delighted.’

Emelie smiled, exposing a gap between her front teeth.
Yes, she was pretty
, Natalia decided. They gave her the tray and her hands shook with the thought of it falling. She carried it carefully up the stairs and she knocked on the door.

‘Where have you been?’ Prasima said, opening the door and taking the tray from her. Natalia said nothing as she walked in. Seraphin was where she had left her but now she was fully dressed. Prasima placed the tray before her and opened it.

‘Girl, come here.’ Seraphin said, picking a slice of bacon. Natalia moved forward.

‘Eat.’ she said. Natalia took it from her and put it in her mouth.

‘I almost wish there was poison in there.’ Seraphin said and gave her a folded parchment. ‘Give this to my grandfather.’

Before Natalia asked, Prasima said, ‘Four doors down by your right.’

She left the room. Any moment spent out of it was a relief. She felt a draft the further she went down the corridor. She stopped at the door, two guards stood by the sides. She knocked and a guard came out, leaving the door ajar.

‘Yes?’

‘A letter for the king from my lady, Princess Seraphin.’

‘Let her in.’ said a voice from within. The guard let her through. She was greeted by the smell of incense coming from the burning candles and the smooth music of the lyre that a musician played at the feet of an old man sitting by a round table stacked with parchments. The man looked up as she came in. His dark eyes and rugged but well-proportioned features was a shadow of his handsomeness in his youth.

‘Who are you?’ he said as she curtseyed.

‘I’m Eyan, my lord. My lady, Princess Seraphin, asked me to give you this.’ She extended the parchment to him. He looked at it, then at her and returned his gaze to what he had been reading while the musician played as though oblivious to the fact that he was not the only one in the room.

‘Place it on the table.’

She did as she was told. He picked it up and unfolded it, reading it as he ran a finger under his nose. There was an iron ring on the finger with the crest of the three-headed snake.
A worshipper of Machish
. He stopped and looked up at her. ‘Tell me, Eyan, can you read?’

‘No, my lord.’

He rose. He was a tall man, taller than her father by a foot. He walked towards her as he said, ‘It’s a difficult thing to believe. You have the bearings of a lady, and your hands look like they’ve never seen work.’ He had swallowed up the space between them. He stood towering over her, his hand cupped her chin and cheeks, while his other hand pushed her closer to him.

‘Are you lying to me?’ he whispered in her ears, his voice was like the lyre, soft but with strength in every chord. Natalia’s heart raced. She dreaded what would happen if she was caught by him.

‘I duly punish whoever lies to me so think before you speak.’ he said, his fingers stroking her lips while his hand moved down her waist.

‘No, my lord, I cannot read.’ she said, her voice breaking. He remained still for a moment watching her but it felt like a lifetime to her.

‘I believe you.’ He let go of her and walked back to the table. Natalia clasp her hands together as her lips quivered.

‘Take this note to her.’ he said, writing on the parchment with a quill. He folded it and sealed it. He extended it to her. She took it, curtseyed and walked out of the room. She wiped her lips and face on her way back. She felt violated. She wanted to wash herself.

She gave the note to Seraphin who was still eating her breakfast. She read it and tore the note into tiny pieces.

‘We must be on our way to the library.’ she said, rising.

                                                                      ***

‘The great library of Naphdael.’ Seraphin said as she and Natalia reached the corridor, ‘I hear the Keeper of Knowledge looks like a toad.’

Natalia said nothing. The thought had crossed her mind when she had seen Ekrid, but hearing Seraphin voice it out made her sympathetic towards him.

‘Do you claim to know nothing of it?’ Seraphin said to her as they reached the door.

‘I know only that he is a good man devoted to his duties.’

‘How can a commoner who cannot read claim to know anything?’

‘I don’t need to know how to read to know people, even cruel ones.’

Seraphin smiled. ‘Indeed, do well to remember your place because that’s where you’ll be for a long time.’

Natalia clenched her teeth.
Don’t lose your temper
, the voice whispered. Seraphin opened the door and went in. Natalia walked in with caution and closed the door behind her. She prayed that she wouldn’t meet any unpleasant surprises and Ekrid wouldn’t spill her secret in a moment of thoughtlessness.

Seraphin stood in the middle of the room, looking around her.

‘This place is as sad as the kingdom itself.’

‘Whose there?’ Ekrid said, walking out from a door with a scroll in his hand. His eyes fell on Seraphin, ‘Oh, my lady.’ he said, bowing. He glanced at Natalia. ‘My--’ She shook her head and waved her hands to silence him. Seraphin glanced at Natalia, then at him, ‘What is it?’ she said.

‘My lady, he saw me two days before with Lady Anistral. He’s only surprised to see me with you.’ Natalia said, moving forward.

‘Oh….’ Seraphin said. ‘She’s under my service now.’

‘I understand now.’ Ekrid bowed. ‘My lady, how may I be of service to you?’

‘I need the history of Naphdael and a map of the city.’ she said, sitting on one of the chairs.

‘A map and the history?’ He sounded surprised.

‘Why, yes. One day, I shall be your queen. Isn’t it fitting for me to know such things?’

‘It is.’

‘Then bring it at once.’

He hurried back through the door he had come.

‘They’re right in describing him as a toad. I wonder how far he can jump.’ she giggled and turned to look at Natalia. The latter said nothing, but turned away to look around.

Ekrid came out with a scroll and placed it on the table before her

‘My lady, this is the history of Naphdael.’ He unrolled it. Natalia was surprised how short it was. Even Seraphin stretched it out and raised it with a dubious look on her face.

‘Does it have the stories of how Naphdael was created?’ she asked.

‘I have no records of that. It was destroyed with The Great Fire?’