ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (45 page)

Natalia rolled to the floor, landing in a pool of blood. Her talisman was by the entrance, out of her reach. Akasha raised his staff and the talisman rose.

‘Finish them.’ Akasha said and the flames behind him moved like wind in her direction. The doors opened and the flames were thrown back along with Akasha. Natalia turned and saw her mother holding the talisman.

‘Natalia.’ Celeste said, running to her.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I came to help you.’ she said and stroked her face. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Natalia’s wounds. She rose. Her golden hair blew back as she raised her hands. Red light burned from them and she threw it at the altar. Akasha scampered out of the way but it removed the head of the god. Machish’s fire rose and rushed towards her. She clapped her hands to create a red shield but the force still flung her to a wall.

‘Mother.’ Natalia said, crawling towards her. The roof was falling apart. Akasha rose, blood ran down his chin. Celeste rose as well with blood on her hands. Her eyes had grown dark.

Akasha moved back, ‘You! It was you all this time, Celeste.’

‘It is Celeste Anundi to you.’ she said, moving forward. Natalia gasped. She recognized the voice.
It couldn’t be
.

‘Mother,’ she said, ‘you’re the Anundr, the one who gave me the talisman?’

‘Yes.’ Celeste said, sighing.

‘How is that possible?’

Akasha threw fire at Celeste throwing her against the door.

‘Mother!’ Natalia saw several flaming creatures surrounded Akasha. They ran towards her. One of them placed its hand on her neck, burning her skin.  She screamed but touching them burned her hands. A bright blue light pushed them off her.

Celeste rose to her feet, blood running down her face. She limped towards Natalia.

‘You cannot win this.’ Akasha said. The fiery figures were multiplying, some hanging over the walls.

Celeste dangled the talisman in her hand and said, ‘All I need to do is kill you.’

His smile disappeared. ‘Are you not afraid?’

‘There is no fear in love. You won’t harm me or my child anymore. I have given you everything you wanted.’ she said and raised her hands. Seven figures in white stood beside her and held her hands.

‘What are you doing?’ Akasha asked, moving back.

‘What I should have done years ago.’

‘We are bound by life.’ he said.

‘Then we will be bound by death.’ She turned to Natalia. ‘Give us your hand.’

The seven figures spoke as one, ‘Don’t be afraid.’

She stretched out her hand. Akasha threw fire but the seven raised their hands and created a golden shield. One of them held Natalia’s hand.

Celeste and the seven raised their hands and out of them came golden light that swept across the room, destroying the fiery creatures. The pillars fell, the temple water dried up and Akasha was flung back against the statue. His head burst open and his staff was burned to ashes. The Ikan bird screeched above as the ceiling fell in large rocks around them. Akasha stretched his hand to an image only he could he see and said, ‘Kalani.’

He closed his eyes and, as his hand fell, Celeste dropped to the ground and the seven disappeared.

‘No!’ Natalia said, crawling to her side. Her mother’s face was bloodied like Akasha’s. Natalia wiped the blood as she cried, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I didn’t wish this for you. How would I explain that you would sacrifice yourself till there was nothing left?’

‘What can I do to save you?’

Her mother touched her face. ‘Nothing. Becoming the Anundr and releasing the seven took the last of my strength.’ She put the talisman in Natalia’s hand. ‘I have done things that are unforgivable but I know you’ll be better than I’ve ever been.’

She closed her eyes.

‘Mother.’ she said and shook her vigorously but she didn’t open her eyes. Natalia rested her head on her mother’s body and wept as the rocks fell around them.

                                                                      ***

The tremors shook the wagon as the rahi, Akasha, rode through the woods. There was a large clearing where a stone altar stood shaped in the image of the temple. Akasha carried the body and placed it on the altar. He took out a knife and raised his hands in prayer to Machish.

He heard a heavy thud behind him. He turned and saw a tall dark figure in a cloak drive his sword into a guard’s stomach. The second guard lay unmoving on the floor.

Akasha moved back and held up his knife. ‘You are defiling holy grounds.’

‘There is nothing holy here.’ the man said, approaching him. Akasha charged with his knife. The man hit the knife from him and placed his sword on Akasha’s throat.

‘Please don’t kill me.’ he cried. The man knocked his head down with his elbow. Akasha hit his head on a rock. The figure carried the body from the altar just as Akasha blacked out.

                                                                      ***

Maris waded through the muddy tunnel till he burst out of the woods outside, yards away from the gates of Soliham. He looked back and saw the flames rising from the prison. He hurried towards the city. The people were in confusion, running for shelter, some riding in horses towards the city gates. He made his way through shortcuts towards the temple. Every few moments, the earth trembled. He trudged down the path, panting. The temple was surrounded by people, struggling to get in. Maris wasn’t sure how he was going to get through the crowd until he saw a group of rahis running towards the temple. He waited for them to pass by and ran behind them.

‘We need to hurry.’ said one of them. ‘We don’t want to be the last ones there.’

‘What caused all these plagues?’ asked another.

‘I hear it was the spawn of Galian. They say she placed a curse before she died.’

‘Surely Machish will end it.’

‘First we have to get there on time.’

‘Stop worrying. It’s not like the Rahmon is praying with us tonight. He’ll be in the Lair.’

Maris knew them. They were years lower in rank and he had never spoken with them, however, he had gotten what he needed. The guards made way for them through the crowd and Maris followed with his head bent. When he was in, he left them and ran up the stairs to the lair, his eyes scanning for a weapon. His eyes fell on a lit iron torch. He removed it from its carrier and continued down the corridor, his heart racing.

Rinosius was outside the lair, pacing back and forth with the staff in his hand.

‘Rinosius.’ Maris said.

The Rahmon turned. ‘You! How did you get out?’

‘The earthquake.’ he said, increasing his steps.

Rinosius aimed his staff at him. ‘Don’t come closer.’

Maris broke into a run. Rinosius waved his staff but nothing happened. His face widened in shock, then alarm. He ran into the lair with Maris behind him. Rinosius knelt before the altar.

‘Machish!’ he said but the god didn’t respond. Maris pushed him down and Rinosius turned his staff on him.

‘Who do you think you are?’

‘No one.’  said Maris. Rinosius hit his face with the staff. Maris clenched his teeth and flung the staff away. Rinosius tried to rise but Maris hit him in the face with the burning torch. He screamed, closing his eyes and held Maris’ neck. Maris struck him again and again. Rinosius face was covered with red welts and blood. Maris held his neck.

‘I am no one because of you. Who was my mother? What was her name?’

Rinosius hit him and Maris hit him in the face again and he yelped.

‘If you don’t answer, I will kill you.’

‘Her name was Uliana.’

‘Where is she?’

‘I don’t know.’

Maris raised the torch again and Rinosius shouted, ‘Wait, it’s a village, west from here. I don’t know the name. I swear by the gods.’

‘What did my mother name me?’

Rinosius didn’t answer. He was breathing heavily.

Maris struck his leg and said, ‘What did she name me?!’

Rinosius trembled and said, ‘Akasha! She named you Akasha.’

Maris drew back and shook his head. ‘You’re lying.’

‘That is the name Machish gave you. The king knew about it, but you were a sickly child. Someone else had to take it.’

‘My name is Akasha.’ Maris laughed. ‘Liar.’

He raised the torch again.

Rinosius’ eyes widened. ‘No, please—’

‘Taste your pain, monster.’ Maris said and dropped the torch on Rinosius’ clothes, setting it on fire. The old man screamed and scampered to his feet, running to one of the rivers. He jumped in and burst into flames. He screamed and pulled himself out. Maris watched as the flames melted his flesh and blackened him. He stopped screaming and lay still as the fire consumed him. It was then that Maris felt the weight of his sickness. His hands trembled as he bent over the second river and cupped some water. Strength returned to his body when he gulped it down.

He heard whispers around him.

‘Akasha.’

He turned around but there was no one and Rinosius lay dead. He turned back to the river and gasped, moving back. The waters in the rivers of Palife rose like a tide.

‘Akasha.’ The voice was getting louder. He saw smoke rising from the altar. Maris rose to his feet and ran. Before he stepped out of the threshold, the waters, like hands, caught him.

‘No!’ he said as they pulled him back into the lair and shut the doors behind him.

Alinus could feel the heat of the sun under his travel clothes as he rode up the hill behind Inna. He wiped his nose, his hand touching the large scar across his face. He stopped his horse and looked back at the city behind them.

Inna turned and saw him far behind. She rode back to him.

‘Alinus, we must go.’

‘My parents are dead because of her.’ he said, clenching his teeth. ‘She killed them on the same day and here I am running like a child.’

‘You’re not running.’ she said. ‘It was your father’s wish that you go and gather as many forces as you can. You’re not strong enough to face her alone.’

‘But didn’t they say she may die from her wounds?’

‘Until that happens, she remains Guardian of Calderon.’

‘For now. If she lives, I will return, and even though she’s half my blood, I will finish her off.’

‘Now you speak like your father’s son.’

She rode up the hill and he followed behind her, glancing back with pain in his eyes.

                                                                                    ***

While Alinus rode away with his heart darkening with intent, thousands of miles away, across the Erland Sea, a kingdom had a darkness of their own.

Queen Ermentrude watched as the physician rubbed ointment on the king’s heaving chest while he lay in a fevered sleep with beads of sweat trickling down his sunken cheeks to his grey beard. His lips were parted as he mumbled to himself. She kissed his cheek and turned to the physician. ‘Tell me if anything changes.’

He bowed. She glanced at her husband and left the tent. She walked across the path between the tents with her mind in a haze even though she smiled and nodded as the people greeted her. She stopped at her tent and said to one of the guards, ‘Agos, see to it that word goes round again for another physician.’

‘My lady, what about the neighboring clans? It wouldn’t be good for us if they know the king is ill.’

‘Then we best make him well quickly.’

‘A seer has heeded your first call.’

‘Where is he?’

‘She, my lady. She’s waiting inside your tent. We have two guards with her.’

‘Where is Diedrich?’

‘The prince rode out for a hunt.’

‘Let me know when he returns.’

He bowed and she went into the tent. She recoiled when she saw Anistral standing before her.

‘What are you doing here after all these years?’ she said under her breath, her eyes darting to where the guards stood.

‘I came for Diedrich.’

‘No, you won’t take him from me. His father is ill. He cannot go with you.’

‘But he must. It’s only a matter of time before everyone learns the truth.’

‘No one will know unless you’ve told someone.’ she whispered.

‘I didn’t betray your trust but I’m not the only seer in your land.’

‘You will not take him!’ she said, her eyes watering. ‘Since I’ve made myself clear, make yourself useful. What does the future hold for my husband?’

Anistral sighed. ‘He will not recover.’

‘No.’

‘And the three clans will rise against you and your son.’

‘You lie. Guards, seize her!’

The guards rushed towards Anistral. The latter raised her hands and the men were thrown in opposite directions. Anistral’s eyes glowed with fire. 

Ermentrude drew back. ‘You’re a witch.’

‘No,’ said Anistral, ‘I am something else.’ She covered her head with her hood and said, ‘I’ll give you a year. When I return, make sure he is ready to leave.’

She left and Ermentrude dropped on a chair, sobbing.

Kalani. Kalani