ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (22 page)

The trees were tall and sparse with white trunks and dark green leaves. The grounds were covered with wet earth, grass, and flowers. Kalani had never seen so many trees in one place. She looked behind her and saw she wasn’t alone. Most of Amse’s people, including his soldiers were looking around them in awe but with suspicion in their eyes.

‘Be on your guard.’ Amse said to them. They raised their spears, looking around and above them. Kalani was sleepy but the excitement of being in a strange place and so close to their destination kept her going. Fanndis walked ahead holding Amse’s hand. She looked better, the color had returned to her cheeks overnight, and she was talkative.

‘Amse,’ she said, ‘why are the people in Halldorr called
The Clouds
?’

‘Maybe because the clouds gather wherever they go.’ Kalani said, gazing at the clouds gathered above the mountain.

‘True, but it’s more than that.’ said Amse. ‘Not everyone in Halldorr is followed by clouds, only the Faran.’

‘The women I saw had clouds around them.’ Fanndis said.

‘Yes, you saw the Faran.’

‘Are they only women?’

‘At the moment, yes. They once chose a man to join them. Unfortunately, they didn’t see eye to eye.’ he said, chuckling.

‘Is it true they are powerful seers?’ Kalani said, bringing him back to the moment.

‘Yes, but they aren’t just seers, they’re the earthly voice of the king of gods. The clouds follow them because they represent his covering.’

‘How?’

‘The symbol of the king is the sun. The clouds cover the sun because they are our emissaries. The clouds above also tell you when there will be rain and when there will be plenty of sun, so do the Faran. When they speak, it’s like speaking to the king himself.’

‘Who is this king of gods?’ Fanndis said as she kicked a stone in her way.

‘Galian.’ Kalani said before Amse could reply.

‘Yes.’ He smiled.

‘But I think it’s a sad thing to have clouds gather wherever you go. It shows how sad their prophecies are.’ Fanndis said after a moment of silence

‘But rain comes only through clouds.’

‘Which also means that before you get anything good, they have to allow it.’ Kalani said.

‘Well…they don’t see it that way.’ said Amse.

Fanndis broke away from him and bent to pick a flower by a tree.

‘No.’ she cried.

‘Fanndis, what is it?’ Kalani asked, as she and Amse rushed towards her. She was staring at something in her hand. She showed it to them. It was a withered flower.

‘What happened?’ Amse asked.

Fanndis trembled as tears fell from her eyes. ‘It looked so beautiful before I touched it. Now, it’s--it’s dead. I killed it.’

‘Which flower was it?’ Amse asked. She pointed to a flower bush with blue bell flowers hanging from it. Kalani glanced from the flowers to the one in Fanndis’ hand. It was unrecognizable.

‘Maybe, it’s only the flower.’ Kalani said, rubbing her shoulder. ‘Amse told me of such a flower.’ She turned to Amse who knelt down, examining the flower bush. ‘Amse, it’s the flower, isn’t it?’ He didn’t reply. He exchanged a look with Mara who stood a few paces behind with the others. She looked shocked, glancing at Fanndis. She turned to whisper in Eirene’s ear.

Amse got up with a grave expression on his face and said, ‘We must continue our journey. We’re almost there.’ He dusted clean Fanndis’ hand and took her away.

‘Amse,’ Kalani said, ‘but it’s like the flower in your story.’ She picked up one of the flowers and waited but it didn’t die.

‘No, it isn’t.’ Amse said to her as she dropped the flower on the floor.

‘Is there something wrong with me, Amse?’ Fanndis asked, looking up.

He stroked her face and said, ‘No, child. You’re only unwell. You’ll be fine when we reach Halldorr.’

Kalani knew he had just lied. Glancing back at the now brown flower, she knew there was more to it than her health. Maybe, it was something only the Faran could answer.

‘Of all the creatures I’ve faced,’ Gyron said as he and Gisilfried walked to the court, ‘my betrothed is the worst. She is a demon and her grandfather is the king of demons.’

‘In the morning, you may see things differently.’ Gisilfried said with a smile.

‘Mark tonight, brother, as Gyron’s last night of peace.’

‘Enjoy the night then, before you begin your suffering.’

‘Do you know I haven’t seen her in days? What kind of bride chooses not to see her prince?’

‘Have you gone to see her?’ Gisilfried said, his mind going back to all the letters she had sent him through her guards requesting his presence in her chambers. He had ignored all of them and burned them in other not to be implicated. Anytime he ran into her, she would leave a lingering touch that filled his head with ideas. He found her open desire disinteresting and repulsive, especially with the knowledge that she was to be wed to his brother. But Natalia was different. There was a force in her eyes he couldn’t will to obey him, neither could he break it. It left him at a loss on how to own her from himself.  It surprised him, the baseness and singularity of his desires, he that was praised to have only lofty thoughts.

As they walked into the hall and took their seats upon the dais, Gisilfried looked around the filled court. The empty gargoyle platform stood as a painful reminder of the prophecy. No one amongst the drunken crowd was too merry to go close to it.

The doors swung open and Seraphin entered with Prasima behind her. Natalia wasn’t with them. He remembered where they were to meet
. She must be waiting for him
. His chest burned with excitement. He took small sips of his wine waiting for the kings to bless the union. When the formalities were done, he rose from his seat and headed for the door.

‘My lord--’ Viden said, blocking his way.

‘What is it now?’ he asked impatiently.

‘Do you need me to escort you?’

‘No-no. Stay here and enjoy yourself.’ he said and brushed him out of his way.

He hurried down the corridor and burst into the courtyard. The place was lit with torches, illuminating the statues. A maiden in a grey cloak stood staring at one of them.

‘Natalia.’ he said, moving forward. She turned and smiled, her white dress glowing under the light.

‘Why do you stare at me so?’ she said as he walked towards her.

‘Because you’re like a goddess sent from the skies to enchant me.’

She smiled. ‘If your flatteries were gold, I would be queen.’

‘I flatter you not. I only speak what my eyes see.’

‘Then your eyes deceive you.’ she said, as he held her waist and stroked her face.

‘But my heart doesn’t.’ He kissed her, holding her tight in his arms.

‘My lord.’ she said, pulling away from him.

‘Gisilfried.’ he said, planting a kiss on her cheek.

‘My lord,’ she said, pushing his lips away with her hand, ‘we stand in plain sight.’

He kissed her hand and said, ‘I won’t stop kissing you until you call me by my name.’

‘My lord--Gisilfried, stop please.’ she said as he planted kisses on her face.

Finally
, he thought and stopped. She looked flustered. Seeing her uncomfortable gave him a sense of joy.

‘Come with me.’ He took her hand and led her in the opposite direction from the entrance.

‘Where are you taking me?’

‘To a place of solitude.’

‘What about the feast?’

‘I’m not the one getting married. Besides, it doesn’t seem to be of much importance to you as well since you’re here with me while Seraphin is at the feast.’

‘Is she? I thought she was unwell.’

‘She looks well to me.’ he said, taking a burning torch from the hand of a statue and pushing the statue aside. It led to an underground stairway. He raised the torch for light and led her down the steps into a room filled with more statues, statues of men hammering steel and a man on his knees reaching for a kneeling woman and her child.

‘What a place.’ Natalia said, looking around.

‘Yes.’ He placed the torch in a carrier. ‘I discovered this place as a child and sometimes I come here if I cannot escape the castle.’

‘No one else knows about it?’ she said, turning to him.

‘No, it’s one of my secrets which I share with you now.’ He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her. He rested his forehead on hers and she said, ‘The statues look so alive, like men frozen in stone.’

‘Yes, they do—not that I care at the moment.’ he said, drawing her closer to him. Her medallion gleamed in the light, catching his gaze.

‘Why do you always wear this?’ he said, tracing the sides of the stone on her chest. It gave him pleasure knowing his fingers rubbed against her skin so.

‘It’s a family heirloom. It reminds me of home.’ She cupped his hand in hers, stopping him.

‘Tell me about your family.’ He tilted her head up to him but she drew away, clutching the talisman.

‘There’s nothing much to say.’ she replied. ‘We’re a family of farmers.’

‘You don’t look like a farmer.’

‘That’s because I always escaped the work.’ She added, ‘But I do miss home. I hope to return soon.’

‘Then let me go with you. I would like to meet your family.’ he said, drawing her to him.

‘No, you cannot come with me. You’re a prince.’

He cupped her face between his hands and said, ‘I can because I’m falling in love with you.’

‘But you’ve only known me for a short while.’ The earnestness in her eyes made him more determined to have her.

‘Time is no boundary for love.’ he said. ‘Love sets its own boundaries. Take me to your family.’

He saw the protest in her eyes as she lowered her lashes and sucked in air. ‘Gisilfried--’

‘There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I love you. Nothing can change that.’

She nodded her head and looked into his eyes. ‘You should return to the feast. They must be searching for you.’

‘What about you?’

‘I’ll see Lady Anistral in the banquet hall, then return home.’

‘Will you be present at the marriage feast tomorrow?’

She smiled and said, ‘Of course.’ He kissed her lips again and led her out of the room with the torch. As they left the court yard, she pulled her hand away from his. An awkward silence followed as they walked to the hall.

The guards opened the door for them to enter but Seraphin came out, stopping them in their tracks. She narrowed her eyes as they darted between Gisilfried and Natalia. She turned to Natalia and said, ‘May I presume that your pending tale for not doing your duties today wouldn’t involve Prince Gisilfried?’

‘My lady, I--’

Seraphin raised her hand to silence her and said, ‘You’re dismissed from your duties. I have no need of you. You may go—wait, call Prasima in the hall before you depart.’

Gisilfried felt the pumping of his heart as his anger shot up. He said with a measured tone, ‘Seraphin--’

‘My lord,’ Natalia said with a smile, ‘it's of no importance. I’ll inform Lady Anistral of the change of events and take my leave.’ She turned to Seraphin, ‘My lady, I’m truly indebted to you for your lavish display of kindness over the days I’ve been with you.’ She curtseyed and walked into the hall.

Seraphin had a devious smile on her face as she turned to him, ‘I see you and your brother have a penchant for maids.’

‘I’m in no mood for this.’ he said, heading for the door. She held his arm. Her hands were hot.

‘My lady.’ he said, glancing at her hand. She pulled it away.

‘So is that why you’ve been avoiding me?’ She smiled and added, ‘Are you in love with her or is she merely a conquest to you?’

He whispered in her ear, ‘Let me give some advice. Focus on your marriage to my brother, have many children and never worry about the state of his brother’s bed. My people have a saying, don’t attempt walking on dangerous waters when you’ve not learned to swim.’

‘Be careful.’ she said. ‘I control the waters itself.’

The doors swung open and Gyron stepped out with his goblet and said, ‘Ah, my lady, you seem to be bringing me more sorrow before marriage than after it.’

‘Marry me and we shall see.’ Seraphin said, walking towards him, ‘Does the tone of your voice suggest jealousy?’

He chuckled. ‘Jealousy would mean I cared. At the moment, I care only for peace as I drink my wine. Unfortunately, I cannot have that until you’re back inside, so,’ pointing to the door, ‘if you please.’

‘How charming of you.’ she said, walking ahead of him. Gisilfried walked in after them and returned to his position on the dais. Marquesda went to his side and whispered, ‘My lord, Viden said he’s seen the Helmford spy here.’

‘Where is she?’ he said, scanning the hall.

‘She’s gone but he’s following her to her hiding place and will be back with news.’

A disturbing thought crossed his mind but he put it away and took a gulp of his wine.

‘Then we best be ready with our men.’ he said, getting up.