Aela (25 page)

‘Hush, Aela. We do not want anybody to know what I have done yet,' whispered Rom to Aela.

‘Croan, you can go and sit by that tree over there, so that Rom and I can have a private conversation,' ordered Aela.

Croan very reluctantly shuffled over to the designated tree, muttering to himself.

‘Do you think he heard what I said to you, Rom?' asked Aela anxiously.

Rom shrugged his shoulders. ‘Even if he did, it is now too late. But we have to make sure he doesn't give us the slip this time, he must not escape from us.'

Aela nodded in agreement.

‘I think your plan to retrieve the Sacred Sword and return home is the best idea. I can't think of any other strategy at this stage,' stated Rom firmly. ‘But first, we must find some food and shelter for the night. We can ask the people living in those huts, just over the hill. Then tomorrow morning we can set off to retrieve the Sword and find our way home.'

With renewed energy and general feelings of purpose in their proposed plan of action, Aela and Rom collected Croan from under the tree and they started to walk in the direction of the cluster of huts, situated in a little hamlet just over the hill. They found the inhabitants very friendly and most happy to share their food and shelter with them for the night.

Next morning, Rom and Aela said their goodbyes and were about to begin their journey, when suddenly they were surrounded by a number of soldiers.

‘Found you at last. Won't Brude be happy that we have captured you both again! Here is the gold reward promised by Brude for any information leading to your whereabouts!'

The soldier handed over a small pouch to one of the inhabitants. ‘Come, men. Bind their hands together. I do not want either of them to run away. What have we here? Some kind of scum?' as he peered down at Croan who was lying on the ground begging for mercy.

‘I was going to hand them over to Brude' wailed Croan. ‘I too, want a reward.'

At this statement, all the soldiers burst out laughing. ‘Off you go you scoundrel, before I kill you with my sword.'

With these words, Croan let out a scream and quickly ran towards the forest and he was soon swallowed up from view by the nearby trees.

‘Come, let us get these two back to Brude as soon as possible so we can claim our reward from Brude!' exclaimed one of the soldiers.

So with feelings of intense defeat and foreboding, both Aela and Rom were led away by the soldiers on the road back to the Temple of the Sun.

CHAPTER 11

The Sacrifice

W
ords could not describe how both Aela and Rom felt, now that they had been taken prisoner by Brude's men again. They were deep in their own melancholic thoughts, as they marched along the road with their captors, to the Temple of the Sun. In contrast, the men were in high spirits as they were thinking of their rich reward but ever mindful that their prisoners should not escape. So they were constantly checking to reassure themselves that the prisoners were still with them.

Also word had got back to Brude that Aela and Rom had been recaptured by his men. He was too impatient to wait for them to arrive, so he had his favourite black horse made ready for him and he was soon galloping down the road, followed by his own elite cavalry guards riding behind to meet Aela, Rom and the guards. Brude was particularly in a buoyant mood, as he was absolutely convinced that the gods had chosen him especially from everyone else for very special favours. He would be famous and all powerful amongst all men, as he was certain, that was his destiny.

It wasn't very long before he saw a small group of soldiers walking towards him with Aela and Rom in the middle of the party. Brude quickly urged his horse forward, then he jumped nimbly off his horse and strode straight towards Rom and placed his hands around Rom's throat thrusting his head close to the prisoner.

‘Where is the true Sacred Sword? Where have you hidden it?' yelled Brude in a rage. Just for good measure, he tightened his grip and gave Rom a violent shake.

‘I wouldn't be too rough with Rom, if I were you,' exclaimed Tua, sitting astride her horse.

Brude loosened his hold on Rom's throat, and swung around to face Tua. ‘Where did you come from? I left you back at the Temple, where you belong. Stop interfering in my plans, you meddling woman,' shouted Brude petulantly, stamping his feet abruptly, at the same time, stirring up a cloud of dust on the ground.

‘Really, Brude, you look ridiculous. You must keep a cool head and not act hastily on your emotions all the time. I wasn't going to wait back at the Temple as I knew you would do something impulsive,' loftily replied Tua.

‘Well, what do you think I should do now?' exploded Brude.

‘I think you should take the prisoners back to the Temple and interrogate them separately, before taking any further action. Perhaps you can find out the truth from at least one of them,' stated Tua.

Brude could see the logic in this advice, so he remounted his horse and gave the order for the party to continue to walk towards the Temple.

Once the group had reached the Temple, Tua ordered Aela and Rom to be taken to separate quarters.

‘Make sure they are given food and drink, a comfortable bed to rest on and are washed and clothed in new garments. Then bring them before Brude and myself this evening, in the throne room of the palace. Come Brude, we must go to your private quarters and I will let you know the secret plan that I have in mind for Aela and Rom. I think you will like what I have thought of for our entertainment later this evening,' purred Tua in Brude's ear.

Rom, was very despondent at the sudden turn of events, as he felt that he hadn't got any further in his quest towards finding out the secret of the magical powers of the Sacred Sword. He sat at the table automatically eating the food placed before him, without any real appetite. Somehow he must escape from this situation, rescue Aela and retrace their steps so they could retrieve the Sacred Sword.

Just at that moment two servants entered the room, ‘It is time to bathe, so you can rest before the evening's entertainment that Tua has organised for everyone. You and your girlfriend are the stars of the show' said one of the servants.

‘What if I do not cooperate with you?' Rom defiantly retorted.

‘We will bring in a number of guards and you will be forced to submit to our demands,' replied one of the servants.

‘All right then, I will agree not to protest, so get on with what you have to do,' sighed Rom.

Rom thought that something might come up that he could take advantage of, in order to regain his freedom. Aela was experiencing the same dark thoughts and she was ever watchful to see whether there was a chance that she could fool her captures and disappear forever. She wasn't looking forward to being part of the proceedings of the evening, that Tua was organising for Brude's amusement.

As the evening shadows began to lengthen the drums commenced beating, at first softly then gradually louder and louder inside the Temple of the Sun to summon the people to assemble in the main forecourt of the Temple. Gradually the main area became filled with excited men and women, impatient to find out what was the promised spectacle awaiting them.

But nothing appeared to be happening, so the crowd started to become restless and began to chant, ‘Brude, Brude, come out, show yourself now!'

Just as the crowd was reaching fever pitch, Brude suddenly appeared at the top of the steps directly in front of the main entrance of the Temple. The crowd acknowledged him with a roar of applause and he raised his hand in response. Then he gestured for them to be silent as he had an announcement to make. There was a sudden hush as everyone in the crowd waited expectantly for what Brude was going to say.

‘Thank you all for coming tonight. I have had my men recapture Rom and Aela. Rom who has stolen your Sacred Sword and hidden it away. Your leader Juno had a replica made to fool you all, and has had it hung in the inner sanctum. He has failed and has misled you as he did not want to admit that he could not protect your sacred magical emblem as he had promised you as the Keeper of the Sword.'

There was an inaudible gasp of surprise from the crowd and one man shouted out, ‘You are trying to trick us. Why should we believe you as our conqueror, rather than our true leader Juno?'

Then a roar of anger came from the crowd, and some started chanting, ‘Liar! Liar!' over and over again.

Others threw their fists in the air, empathising their displeasure. ‘Bring Juno and Rom to us and we will demand answers from them ourselves.'

More voices in the crowd took up the cry. ‘We want Juno and Rom now.'

Brude was totally mortified at the sudden turn of events and he realised if he didn't take quick action, the crowd would surge forwards and kill him on the spot. Brude turned towards the guards and shouted, ‘Bring in Juno and Rom immediately, before they kill me.'

The people at the front of the mob heard Brude give the order, they began to cheer and clap their hands. The rest of the crowd also took up the cheer, not really knowing why they were shouting, but it made them feel good anyhow. The noise was deafening and some started to stamp their feet as well, for good measure.

But when the guards appeared with Juno and Rom, their happiness was overflowing as Juno their leader was still alive.

‘Juno, Juno, praise to the gods you are still with us,' some of the crowd yelled.

Brude was regretting the fact, that he had not killed Juno with his own sword when he first took him prisoner. He was also aware that he was fast losing control of the situation and once the crowd realised their strength in numbers, they could easily attack him and his guards.

He tried to shout above the noise of the crowd, but no one was listening to him as they were completely carried away with their basic emotions. Brude had a sudden idea and gave the signal for the giant gong to be struck. This had an instant effect as the massive sound reverberated through the Temple.

The people gradually stopped shouting, clapping and stamping their feet, the general noise became more subdued and order was soon restored once more.

The crowd were now ready to listen to Brude again, ‘Come citizens, listen to what I have to say to you. Guards bring Juno further forward and make him kneel before his people and explain to them the truth about the disappearance of the Sacred Sword from the inner sanctum and how a replica being substituted in its place.'

Another loud roar was heard from the mass, but this time it was soon lost in the crowd as the people were impatient to hear Juno's answer.

The pressure was now on Juno and all eyes were on him.

‘I deny the accusation completely from my old enemy Brude. He is always lying about something and plotting to gain more power over everyone. My people, you know I have always your interests in my heart.' He placed both his hands over his heart in a grand manner and lowered his head humbly towards his chest at the same time.

The crowd start cheering again, ‘Juno our saviour, our saviour!'

Brude was now beside himself with rage as he was not getting his own way. He raised his hand for silence, and much to his own surprise the crowd immediately quietened down.

‘Tomorrow at dawn everyone is to assemble again at the Temple and this time the real truth will come out for once and all. Take the prisoners back to their cells,' yelled Brude. He then angrily strode back into the Temple, as Juno and Rom were led away by the guards.

By now Brude had completely lost his cool, as he walking back towards his private quarters.

‘I will kill Juno with my bare hands. How dare he lie to his people. But wait, it was Tua who told me that Juno had the replica made of the Sacred Sword. That confounded woman could be lying to me, after all she is the High Priestess of the Temple of the Sun. She is very ambitious, why should I believe her explanation. Life is too complicated. I shouldn't trust anyone and just follow my own cunning instincts.'

He continued to talk to himself, at times muttering incoherently, then shouting out what he would do to any traitor who had double crossed him.

By the time he had reached his destination he was completely livid with rage over the change of events. In the meantime Tua had heard from one of the servants what had happened at the top of the Temple steps, so she was mentally preparing herself for his tirade.

On seeing Tua, Brude yelled at her in anger, ‘You have been lying to me about Juno. You want to have all the power and glory in your own hands. You treacherous woman. I should run my sword through your body now.'

‘If you do that, you will have no one to support you.' retorted Tua. ‘You will stand alone. I have influence amongst Juno's people still. You have no one, kill me if you wish. Everyone will turn on you and your cause will be lost. I have a better plan to make Rom reveal where he has hidden the true Sword. Then the people will find out, what a liar Juno is about the true facts about the replica Sword. You can have him executed before his people at your leisure. It is up to you.'