ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (14 page)

Natalia leaned on the door. She shakily grasped her talisman and took deep breaths to calm her racing heart.

‘Subject!’ She scoffed. ‘Of all the names in the world to be called.’

How could she have asked him his name? As though she wasn’t conspicuous enough
. She sighed and closed her eyes. She needed to calm her thoughts.
The first day she stepped out was the day she was almost caught by the prince.
She held her head and rubbed her temples.

‘Natalia, you’re early. I thought you and Merith would take longer.’

Natalia looked up to see Ethel descending the stairs with a basket of yarn. She was one of Anistral’s assistants who handled the day-to-day running of the house. It was she who had cleaned Natalia’s room when she had arrived.

Natalia was silent. Ethel dropped the basket at the foot of the stairs and approached her.

‘What happened, child? You look faint. Haw! Your arm.’ she said, her chubby face lengthened in horror as she touched Natalia’s bloodied sleeve.

‘It’s only a small cut. It will heal.’ Natalia said, pulling her arm away. Ethel refused to leave.

‘I would rather see for myself.’

‘I need to speak to Anistral. Where is she?’

Ethel’s face went blank. ‘I--I s--she should be in her room, busy--you should go and rest. I’ll tell her to see you as soon as she can.’

‘No, don’t worry. I won’t take long.’ Natalia said, heading for the stairs.

‘I--I don’t think she wants to be disturbed.’ Ethel said, her lips quivering. Her small eyes had doubled in size.

‘But I cannot keep this to myself. I--’

‘What is it?’ Anistral asked as she stepped into the room through the door adjacent the courtyard. Her hair was pulled away from her face and she was wiping her hands with a cloth.

Natalia glanced from Anistral’s expressionless face to Ethel’s frightened one.

‘Ethel said you were in your room.’

‘An honest mistake.’ said Anistral. ‘She didn’t see me when I left.’

Natalia glanced at Ethel again and came down the stairs. ‘Where does that door lead to?’ she asked, moving to the door.

Anistral held up her hand to stop her and said, ‘Don’t be rude. It leads to my assistants’ living quarters. Why did you want to see me? What happened to your arm?’

‘Forgive my manners, Anistral.’ Natalia said, facing her. ‘I was in a trivial fight--’

‘Trivial fight!’ said Ethel, arms akimbo.

‘But I can barely feel the pain.’ she said. ‘I also met the prince today.’

‘Oh dear.’ Ethel said, covering her mouth.

‘Ethel, please leave us at once.’ Anistral said. Ethel curtsied and carried the basket of yarn through the door Anistral had opened.

‘What happened?’ Anistral asked when they were alone.

‘The prince brought me here and he said he wanted to see me again.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I told him I would be leaving the city tomorrow morning.’

‘Why did you lie? What if he sees you again?’

‘That won’t happen. But if it does, I’m sure he would have forgotten my face.’

Anistral’s lips twisted into a wry grin. ‘Don’t be so sure.’

                                                                      **
*
                           

Gisilfried got to the city gates just in time to hear Tharstin’s address to the men. ‘We ride to Wisgurn.’ he said as he trotted back and forth on his horse. His face was stern and his voice was loud and commanding.

‘The witch is dangerous. She knows we’re coming. We must stay on the path and we must ride swiftly. It’s the only way if we want to make it back alive.’ He raised a fist and said, ‘For the king, for the city,’

‘And for Naphdael!’ they hailed, raising their fists. The gates were opened and the thronging crowd made way for them on the bridge. Tharstin rode out with the soldiers close behind. Gisilfried looked up at the city walls and saw his brother gazing down at him. Gyron nodded and raised his fist in the air. Gisilfried smiled and did the same. He turned his attention to the bridge and he galloped to join the others. He got to them and moved ahead, riding side by side with the general.

‘Even before we left the city you’ve disobeyed my command.’ said Tharstin. ‘I wonder how you would fare in these woods where the only thing that could stand between you and death is my word.’

‘But those are my people. Something had to be done.’

‘Those were not our orders. We have city guards for a reason.’

Gisilfried kept his eyes on the path. ‘I did what I thought was right.’

‘Sometimes what is right isn’t always the best thing. All kings know this. It is what differentiates dead kings from living ones. Was it also right to take the girl home when the guards could have done it?’

‘I don’t need to explain.’

‘You don’t need to. I already know your reasons. You found her beautiful, didn’t you?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘I’ve lived too long not to know a lie when I hear it.’ he said, spitting on the floor. ‘She’s a commoner but she would do for now to help you forget the other woman.’

‘I cannot forget her.’

‘But she’s dead. You cannot keep mourning.’

He stared into the horizon ahead, his mind wandering into his past. ‘I know.’

Natalia groaned as she sat up on her bed and rubbed her temples to ease her splitting headache. She thought she had heard a woman screaming. She looked around her. The room was enveloped in darkness but there was no one there. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to relax.

She heard hurried footsteps in the hallway. She got up and opened the door just enough to be able to see without being caught. The candle lights in the hallway were still lit but they burned low.
Eirene must have forgotten to put them out,
she thought
.
Anistral came out from her room with Philani, one of her assistants, a scrawny-looking woman with big blank eyes. She and Natalia had never spoken to each other but Natalia had studied her. She never seemed interested in anything but her work. Her feelings about things were so masked that even when things concerned her, she talked like she was a passive observer.

‘How is she?’ Anistral asked her, as she tied her night robe. They were proceeding to the stairs.

‘She’s been screaming. She seems to be getting worse.’

‘What about the ointment?’

‘We’ve used almost everything but it was ineffective.’ she said as they went down the stairs.

Natalia leaned on the door as Philani’s words echoed in her mind.
She’s been screaming
.
But who? Was it the same person she had heard?
She opened the door and stepped out.
She had to find out
. She walked across the empty hallway. She could hear the echoes of voices below. She went down the stairs and looked around. The place was empty but the candles were lit. She walked to the door leading to the sleeping quarters and opened it. It was a small dimly lit corridor with doors at the right that faced the windows. Natalia entered with measured footsteps, listening for voices. She heard the screams again. She inched to where the screams were coming from and opened the door. She saw two of Anistral’s assistants holding down a disheveled woman on a bed while the other two massaged an ointment on her neck. Anistral stood by them chanting as the woman on the bed struggled to break free. They all turned as Natalia came in. The woman’s round raging eyes changed to recognition.

‘The heir of Anundr.’ she said smiling, stretching out her hand.

‘Get out!’ said Ziati. Anistral took Natalia out of the room.

‘What on earth were you thinking?’ she said. ‘You don’t know what you’ve done.’

‘I--I don’t understand. What did I do?’ Natalia was shaken. She felt a strange connection between her and the woman as though she knew her from somewhere. She clutched her talisman. Anistral sighed and looked sadly down at her.

‘She’s sick and we’re trying to help her. You need to go back to bed.’

‘No. I know there’s more to this than what you’re telling me. Why did she call me heir of Anundr?’

‘I cannot explain now.’

‘Anistral.’ Ethel called from inside the room. There was a shuffle within. The woman was shouting, ‘Let me go--let me see her--I only want to talk to her.’

Natalia made to enter the room but Anistral drew her back. ‘Don’t you dare it.’

‘But she said she only wants to talk. What are you hiding from me?’ Natalia said, struggling to break free from her hold. She succeeded but Anistral was quick to block her way.

‘I said not now, trust me. I’ll explain later. Go back to your room.’ Anistral’s face was calm but her green eyes gleamed with flames around the edges. ‘I will not repeat myself again.’ Her voice was measured and every word was emphasized. Natalia had never seen her like that and it frightened her. She drew back, knowing it was time to retreat. Even the voice in her head told her to. She nodded her head and said, ‘Later then.’

Anistral’s glare hadn’t cooled. ‘You may go.’ Natalia turned around and walked back, feeling Anistral’s eyes following her as she left.

They had ridden for two days. The further they went the redder the leaves and the more misshapen the trees. The wind carried whispers in the bushes, rustling the leaves and making the forest one with the voices. Tharstin made them ride harder, defying the cold wind that rose to push them back.

There was a raging river ahead and a little girl in rags stood at its bank watching the water as she hugged a little wooden horse. Gisilfried got down from his horse beside her as the soldiers crossed the currents.

Tharstin stopped in the middle of the river and turned around. ‘What are you doing? Get back on your horse.’

Gisilfried ignored him and dropped on his knees to speak with the girl. She looked frightened by him and she hugged her horse tighter.

‘Little girl, where’s your mother?’

She shook her head and pointed to the other side of the river.

‘You want to cross to the other side?’

She nodded her head.

‘You’ll ride with me then.’ he said, smiling.

‘My lord--’

‘Ride, General.’

Tharstin turned and crossed to join the other soldiers. Gisilfried crossed the currents with the girl. He put her down when they reached the other side.

‘Thank you.’ she said. ‘Are you going to the house of the lady in velvet?’

‘Who is that?’

‘Some call her the weeping woman but many know her as the Witch of Wisgurn.’

‘How do you know her?’ he asked.

‘I am a part of her past and her future. She knows me well. Give her this.’ She gave him her toy horse. ‘She’ll know it’s from me.’

‘No, I cannot.’ he said, extending it to her. She looked at it, then at him. Her face had grown cold. ‘Take it.’ she said, her voice was hard.

‘My lord, we need to leave.’ Tharstin said, riding to his side.

‘Wait, let me just--’ Gisilfried turned around but the girl was gone.

‘Good bye, Gisilfried.’ said the girl in a soft whisper from the woods.

‘Did you see her?’ he asked Tharstin.

‘See who?’

‘The girl.’

‘What girl? I thought you stopped to look at something.’

Gisilfried looked at the toy in his hand. ‘So you didn’t see her?’

‘We don’t have time for this.’ Tharstin said and rode off.

Gisilfried looked at the toy and tucked it under his belt. He got on his horse and galloped to join the others, throwing a glance at the river. He joined Tharstin in front of their men.

‘Sorry for my delay.’ he said.

‘I have no need for your apologies. Only make sure it doesn’t happen again. I gave my word to the king that I would keep you safe. It was no light promise.’

‘Yes, I understand. My father worries too much, but in all my years I’ve never seen him afraid of anything till that creature came alive.’

‘He has reasons to be. I’m sure you’ve heard it sang and whispered over fires how the great King Castian killed the goddess Ida. Before she fell, she placed a curse on our kingdom that one day a king from his line will marry a sorceress and then all the spirits beneath the kingdom shall rise and burn the city to the ground.’

‘But my father didn’t marry a witch, neither would my brother nor I. So why is this happening?’

Tharstin sighed and said, ‘She said for us to know the prophecy is sure, one of her jewels would come into the kingdom and a spirit would be released.’

‘That creature in court?’

‘Yes, but that’s not all. On Remembrance Day, if the jewel is dropped within the heart of the city, the sorceress will have the power to release the spirits. So we must find the one with the jewel before then.’

The direction of the wind changed, moving past them into a large field of tall purple lily plants that surrounded a stone house.

‘The house of Wisgurn.’ Tharstin said. He raised his hand and halted the soldiers. They stood at the edge of the field. There seemed to be no point of entrance except cutting through the field.

‘General, how will we cross?’ said one of the soldiers.

‘Just wait.’ he said.

A breeze blew across the field, creating hissing sounds as the plants rubbed against one another.
Like whispers
, Gisilfried thought.
She knew they were there.
In front of them, the field cleared a narrow grassy path that led to the castle gate.

‘How can we trust the witch? Aren’t we the ones who enslaved her here?’ Gisilfried asked, his eyes perusing the fields. His eyes fell on a window in the house facing the path.

‘We have no choice. She has helped us before; let us hope she helps us now. She has as much to lose as we do if the sorceress rises.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The sun is setting. We must go.’ Tharstin turned to the men, ‘Stay on the path. We ride hard.’

He led the way through the path. Gisilfried heard rustling in the leaves nearby. A soldier behind him screamed. He looked back but the soldier was gone.

‘Ride fast.’ Tharstin shouted, ‘There are creatures in these fields. We must get to the house before sundown.’

They rode faster but darkness was flooding the field and catching up with them. Whoever the darkness fell on was dragged with his horse by something into the fields. Gisilfried focused on the gate and rode as fast as he could. Tharstin rode ahead of him. By the time they reached the gate, it swung open without them touching it. They rode in and the gate was shut. Gisilfried turned around. Only twelve soldiers remained. The sun had set.

Tharstin climbed down from his horse. Gisilfried and the rest of the soldiers followed suit.

‘Men, you’ll stand guard here.’ said the general. ‘Prince Gisilfried, come with me.’

Gisilfried climbed the steps with him leading to a wooden door.

‘What were those things?’ he asked the general.

‘Don’t ask. It’s the curse of this house.’ Tharstin knocked on the door. It swung open by itself. Gisilfried hadn’t been sure of what he would find but he hadn’t expected what he saw. He caught his breath. The door opened to a hall way lit with candles on elaborately carved candlesticks that hung on the walls. The walls were lined with exotic tapestry and the chairs were carved from cedar wood. The air was warm and heavy with perfume. It was like walking into a palace. Tharstin didn’t seem surprised by the grandeur of the room. He walked across the room, his eyes darting side to side while he held the hilt of his unsheathed sword. Gisilfried followed him, wondering if he had stepped into a dream. Tharstin stopped at the foot of the stairs. The stair way was wide and built with white rock.

‘Witch of Wisgurn,’ he called, ‘we need your help.’

His voice echoed in the stairway but there was no response. Tharstin drew his sword. ‘She usually answers when I call.’ he said. Gisilfried climbed two steps up.

‘My lord.’ Tharstin said in objection.

‘General, lower your sword.’ he said, then turned to face the stairs, ‘Lady in velvet, please we need your help.’

There was silence, then they heard footsteps descending. A young, maiden in a rich green tunic stood at the landing of the stairs. ‘My mistress says you may come up.’ She turned and went up the stairs. They followed her.

‘Why didn’t your mistress answer me?’ Tharstin asked as they climbed.

‘My lady no longer answers to the name Witch of Wisgurn.’ She stopped at a door facing the stairs and knocked.

‘Come in.’ answered a silky voice. The girl said to them, ‘Wait here.’

She let herself in and shut the door. Her voice was audible. ‘My lady, the general is here.’

‘Let he and the young man with him come in.’ said the voice. ‘I’ll speak with them alone. Take this and give some to the other girls. You know what to do.’

The girl came out with a large wooden bowl half filled with a green mixture. She left the door open and extended her hand for the men to enter. Tharstin whispered to Gisilfried, ‘Allow me to do the talking.’

The girl closed the door behind them. Gisilfried looked around the room. It was neat and had two tables in it. One was arranged with the books and parchments, and the other had herbs and potted plants. There was a bed by the window and the window faced the path. A tall dark-haired woman in purple velvet robes stood by the table that had herbs. She was pounding something in a bowl with a small wooden pestle and humming a tune. Tharstin drew his sword.

‘Tharstin, put that toy of yours away.’ she said without looking. ‘You know I could kill you before you even moved it.’

He slid the sword back into its sheath and said, ‘We didn’t come here to have our time wasted.’

‘I’m making something for your wounds.’ she said.

‘We’re not injured.’

‘Tharstin, feel your neck, and young man, check your left arm.’ They did and felt blood trickling down from small slits.

‘You did this, witch.’ Tharstin said, unsheathing his blade again. The woman didn’t stir from what she was doing.

‘I wish I did but I would have killed you in a more witch-like fashion, eating you alive perhaps.’ She dropped the pestle down. ‘The leaves on the plants had tiny spikes coated with poison. They cut you while you rode down here. The poison quickly spreads through your body.’ She approached them with the bowl. ‘First faintness, then paralysis, then death. Very simple.’

‘I warn you witch, if you come any closer, I’ll…’ Tharstin’s sword hand trembled and he staggered back.

She smiled and said, ‘You’ll…
phiff
!’ She blew on him and he fell to the ground, his sword clanging on the floor beside him. His eyes were open and he tried to speak but no words came. Gisilfried held the hilt of his sword but his hands trembled. His sight was blurry and he felt numbness spreading to his hands and feet.

‘Sit down.’ she said to him, pointing to a chair beside the door. He obeyed, willing all his strength to control his movements. Breathing deeply, he balled his hands into fists and watched as she bent down and rubbed the green mixture into Tharstin’s cut.

‘That should do.’ she said, then crossed over Tharstin and walked to him. She pulled up his left sleeve and rubbed the mixture into his cut. He winced. It stung at first but he felt warmth spread through his body. His vision got clearer.

‘What about the others?’ Gisilfried said. ‘They must be wounded.’

‘My hand-maidens are tending to them and your horses.’ she said as she rubbed more in.

‘Why would you save our lives after trying to kill us?’

‘I didn’t try to kill you.’

‘But you planted those lilies.’

‘Yes, I did.’ She paused and looked at him. ‘The thing about this land is that it corrupts everything that grows out of it. It’s cursed, that’s why I was exiled here.’

‘If you could leave if you wanted, couldn’t you?’

‘Yes, I could, Prince Gisilfried.’

‘How do you know my name?’

She smiled. Creases formed around the skin of her azure eyes. She looked in her mid-forties but she had a youthful glow.

‘There.’ she said, rising. ‘You’ll be fine in a few moments.’ She turned and dropped the bowl on the table and cleaned the green stains from her hands with a small rag.

‘How is your father and brother?’

‘They are well.’ he said. He could feel his strength returning.

‘How is the queen?’

‘My mother is fine.’

She stared at the wall. ‘I met her once, long before she became queen. I could never forget her eyes, full of lofty ambitions. She got what she wanted but now she’s fulfilling someone else’s dream.’

‘Don’t listen to her, my lord, she’s full of deceit.’ Tharstin said, as he struggled to get up.

‘Oh shut up, Tharstin. Why are you here?’ she said, dropping the rag on the table and folding her hands.

Gisilfried helped him up. He removed the sword wrapped in dark cloth from his back and gave it to her.

‘Interesting, a royal sword of Helmford.’ She giggled. ‘I’m sure the king almost died from just seeing this on his land.’

‘We want to know who owned it and where the person is.’

She closed her eyes and ran a hand over the blade, mumbling words under her breath. The blade cut her palm. Gisilfried moved forward to help her but Tharstin held him back. ‘Wait.’ he said. The blood on the blade trickled up and spread over the edges of the sword. It covered the hilt. She exchanged hands, holding the hilt with her injured hand. Her mumblings intensified. The blood on the sword glowed and then returned to her injured hand. She stopped talking and opened her eyes. There was no evidence on the sword or on her palm that she had cut herself. She gave the sword back to Tharstin and said, ‘It belongs to a girl from the royal line of Helmford. She’s in Naphdael, but for what purpose I cannot say.’

‘Where in Naphdael is she?’ Gisilfried said.

She stared outside the window. ‘The girl carries a powerful talisman. It screens the place from my view.’

‘The talisman must be what we’re looking for.’ said Tharstin. ‘Try again.’