ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (43 page)

Natalia and the men reached the hill as dusk approached. The smoky trail stopped at the base of the hill.  They all dismounted and looked up. The hill was a steep climb.

‘Why would he even come here?’ said Alcon. ‘This place is owned by the rahis.’

‘He was once a rahi, so it must mean something to him.’ said Natalia.

‘It may rain soon.’ said Ronem, pointing at the stormy clouds above.

‘No, it’s the bird.’ she said. ‘He knows we’re here.’

‘Then we best be ready.’

‘No, I’ll climb alone.’

‘But my lady—’

‘Shhh.’ she said and took a loaf of bread and a knife from Janus.

‘I don’t know why I always have to bleed.’ she said, cutting her left palm and rubbing her blood in the bread.

‘What if he eats it and it doesn’t work?’ asked Alcon.

‘Then he would eat me. But it has to work.’ She placed the bread in her bag and slung the bag over her shoulders. ‘I have to start climbing.’

‘Be careful.’ said Janus.

She sighed and looked up. There was little she could hold on to except small rocks and weeds. She grabbed the rocks above her and climbed upwards. She struggled with finding places to place her feet but she continued. When she was halfway there, she heard the rumble of thunder.

‘Felman, please don’t let it rain.’ she said.

Rain poured down only on the hill. In moments, Natalia was soaked and the rocks were slippery. She lost her footing and she was left dangling by one hand. Her bag fell off her to the ground. Below her, the men were shouting for her to climb down. S
he
looked up
. She was so close
. If she gave up, she wouldn’t be able to climb up again. She focused on getting her hand on another stone and carried on.

She reached the top but there was no one there.
How could it be possible?
She dropped to her knees, panting. She heard a piercing cry behind her. She turned and saw the bird descend from the clouds, larger than he had been.

She said, ‘Felman, I need your help.’

He flew towards her, talons out. She dodged him and got up, drawing her sword.

‘I’m not afraid to use this.’ she said. He opened his mouth and cried out. Lightning struck the sword just as Natalia dropped it. The sword flew over the hill but the lightning had left a large hole between her and the bird.

‘Felman, please.’

The bird charged again with his talons out. She dodged but rolled towards the edge. The bird seized the chance and scratched her face. She pushed him away. She saw in his eyes a wildness and a lust to kill. It dawned on her that the bird was a creature of war and every other person was prey.

She brought out her talisman. The bird looked at it, then at her and charged again. This time, hitting her with its beak as well.

Oneness
, the voice said as the talisman glowed. The bird was soaring back to her. From his eyes, she knew he was done playing.

‘Help me please.’ she said to the talisman.

Look into his eyes
.

She rose and looked at the bird. He was close and his eyes were frightening.

Don’t be afraid. He hears his master’s voice.

She shouted the words that came to her mind, ‘
Felman Iandis kalian so tu pranin
.’

The bird flew past her and soared through the sky, crying out. The clouds cleared. Natalia held her chest and took a deep breath.

You’re not finished yet
.
Turn around.

She turned. She gasped as she looked below. She realized she had walked into one of her dreams.

Jump
.

‘No.’ she said, moving back.

It’s now a matter of trust
.

‘Who would catch me?’

There was no reply. She ran her hands over her face. The men shouted for her to leave the edge. She looked up and saw the bird soaring around her. She sighed and turned around, closing her eyes.

Let go.

She descended, hearing the wind whistle past her ears. She felt talons on her midriff, cutting her fall. She opened her eyes and saw the Ikan soaring down with her. He looked at her and she knew they were one now. She would call and he would answer. He set her on the ground. The men surrounded her.

‘That was madness, my lady.’ said Ronem. She smiled and looked up at the bird.

‘We can go.’ she said. ‘The bird is ready to come with us.’

They climbed on their horses and rode away with the bird flying above them.

Prince Meldric rubbed his eyes as he strode to the garden. His vision was blurry. Spending the night at the gates had never affected him so. As the guards opened the doors, he stepped out, meeting Queen Caitriona in the path.

‘Mother.’ he said, taking her hand. ‘I meet you well.’

‘I meet you well in the name of the gods.’ she replied in greeting.

‘I heard father’s here. I want to speak with—’

‘Your eyes,’ she said, ‘they’re glowing.’

‘What?’ he blinked. He had felt his eyes burning but had thought nothing of it.

‘The glowing has stopped.’ She added, ‘You must come to the temple for cleansing. I’ve never seen anything like this before.’

‘I will, mother.’

              She nodded and pointed him in his father’s direction. He walked to the far end of the garden where Meino sat drinking with guards standing at his sides.

‘Father.’ Meldric said, bowing.

‘You look troubled.’ he said, setting aside his goblet.

‘Strange things are happening in the city.’

‘Like what?’

‘All the birds have left the city. The dogs howled all night. Horses have been throwing off their riders. Many people say they saw ghosts and shadows. The people are afraid.’

Meino chuckled and picked up his goblet.

‘It must be because of the festival tonight.’ he said. ‘The gods are moving.’

‘Father, should we not stop the festival?’

Meino narrowed his eyes at his son. ‘Are you afraid?’

‘No.’

‘Good. No son of mine should ever be afraid, especially not my heir. The festival must hold tonight. Things have already been set in motion.’

‘The girl?’

‘Yes, the girl, and it’s for the good of the city. Once the festival is over, Helmford will be years ahead of its time. Even Arngeirr won’t be able to stand against us.’ He stretched the goblet to Meldric. ‘I’m doing this for you and your brothers. Helmford will be the power of Calderon. We will be untouchable by everyone and by what is to come.’

Meldric took a gulp from the goblet and said, ‘What is to come?’

‘The end.’ Meino rose and patted his son’s shoulder. ‘Drink up, my son. You can stop worrying about the girl and think of the ones you’ll meet in the festival. Who knows, tonight, you might find yourself a queen.’

Meino strolled out of the garden with the guards following. Meldric guzzled down the wine and slumped on a chair. His hands trembled. He knew he shouldn’t have drank. He balled his hands but he couldn’t control it. His breathing sped and his eyes burned hotter. In his heart he knew that night was his own end. He buried his face in his hands.

King Meldric walked back and forth in Natalia’s tent. Dawn was near but she and her company hadn’t returned. He sighed and rubbed his face. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.

‘My lord,’ said a soldier, bowing at the entrance, ‘they’ve returned.’

His heart skipped and he ran out. A throng of soldiers stood watching. He made his way to the front and saw Natalia riding towards them with the men and a bird flying above them.

‘Father.’ she said, climbing down the horse. He embraced her. She didn’t move at first, then she put her arms around him.

‘Never leave me that way again.’ he said.

She broke away from him. ‘I won’t.’ She smiled and said, ‘We have the bird.’

He turned to the soldiers. ‘Get ready. We ride to Helmford now.’

The crowd dispersed. Natalia turned to Alcon. ‘We’ll divide ourselves to the two gates. Kill anyone who stands in your way till you reach the castle.’

Meldric got on his horse and rode beside his daughter. He was proud. She was everything he was told she would be.

They got to the gates of Helmford. Natalia looked up at the bird and said to the soldiers, ‘Cover your ears.’

The bird soared above the city and cried out.

                                                                                    ***

Akasha covered his ears and fell from the throne.

‘No!’ he said. His men were on the floor with their hands over their ears.

‘Arm yourselves.’ he said. ‘They mustn’t take the kingdom from us.’

He turned to the rahis beside him. ‘Strengthen the enchantments around the palace.’

The rahis rose to obey his orders. Akasha got up, coughing. Black blood splattered on the floor. The bird was worsening his ailment. He wasn’t going to die as long as he still had strength left.

‘Bring the queen.’ he said to the remaining guards.

                                                                      ***

Celeste and her maids covered their ears when they heard the cry. She smiled, resting her head on her pillow as she imagined Akasha’s face.
Akasha. Oh no!
She knew what he would be driven to do to her.

‘Lock the doors.’ she said to her maids. They gaped at her but did as they were told, bolting the double doors. Within moments, they heard the doors being dragged.

‘Open up.’ shouted the men at the door.

The maids stared at Celeste.

‘Don’t stand there like fools, reinforce the doors.’

                                                                      ***

The barrier disappeared and Natalia rode in with her father and the soldiers. The people came out of their homes cheering. Natalia noticed most of them looked thin and sickly. On the road sides were human bones and feces. Helmford no longer seemed like the home she knew.

A soldier rode to them and said to Meldric, ‘My lord, we’re glad you’ve returned.’

‘What happened to my city?’

‘Sickness and hunger. People turned to savagery. The city has been under siege by itself and the rahis.’

‘What about the Rahmon?’ said Natalia.

‘He’s in the castle. We couldn’t get through because of the barrier.’

‘That is taken care of. Tell your men to kill every rahi on sight.’ Meldric said, hitting the reins.

They galloped to the palace gates and met the pile of rotten corpses blocking the entrance. Natalia covered her nose and said ‘Pull this down.’

Two groups of soldiers ran forward with tree trunks wedged between them. They hit the barrier, causing bodies to fall over. The men holding the timber groaned and held their throats, falling to the floor as the rahis from within approached, making incantations. The army moved backwards. The earth trembled and the ground between them rose like a blockade.

‘Archers.’ Meldric said and soldiers with bows stepped out.

‘Fire!’

They let their arrows fly, hitting the rahis before the blockade could submerge them. The ground fell as the rahis fell dead. The army rode into the grounds, killing the rahis in their way. Natalia stopped her horse at the castle steps and made for the door.

‘Wait.’ Meldric said, holding her arm.

‘Why?’ she asked as soldiers bounded up the steps. The first group of soldiers that opened the door fell back with arrows in them.

Meldric turned to the soldiers around him. ‘Take up your shields.’

He gave Natalia a shield and took one from a soldier. They ran through the door with their swords out, killing the rahis in the way. They made for the court room and opened the door. Rahis stood with swords waiting and Akasha stood on the dais. He looked gaunt and pale, with black veins on his forehead and running down his neck. His eyes were red as he trembled and shouted, ‘Defend your Rahmon. Kill them. We own the throne.’

The rahis fell dead under the soldiers’ swords. Akasha raised his staff but Alcon had a sword on his neck before he could wave it. Alcon took it from him and the soldiers pulled him down from the dais as Meldric and Natalia took their places on the throne.

‘Bow before your king.’ Alcon said to him.

Akasha spat on the floor and said, ‘He is no king. I would rather die.’

‘So be it.’ said Meldric. ‘You’re a disgrace. Alcon, kill him.’

Alcon pushed him to his knees and raised his sword.

‘No.’ Natalia said, ‘Father, forgive me but a quick death is too kind for him.’

‘Sentence him then.’ Meldric said, motioning his hand.

Natalia rose. ‘Akasha, I sentence you to death by fire in three days.’ She turned to Alcon. ‘Let him stay in Behozi’s cell in Soliham.’

‘No.’ Akasha cried, struggling to his feet. ‘No bastard can send me there.’

Natalia cringed. Akasha laughed at her reaction and said, ‘So you didn’t know that you’re a bastard? Your mother was a whore.’

‘Silence.’ Meldric said, rising up.

‘You’re weak, Meldric, and impotent that’s why you have a bastard talking like a princess.’

Natalia swallowed and said, ‘I may not be a Princess of Helmford but I am Ruler of Arngeirr, so be silent when I speak. At first light, chop off his hands and legs before you burn him. Take him out of my sight at once before I start now.’

‘The throne is mine.’ Akasha shouted as he was dragged out. ‘It is mine.’

Natalia took a long shaky breath and stormed out of the court, ignoring Meldric’s calls. She needed to speak with her mother.