The Oracle's Message (12 page)

Hsusia’s warriors led them down a long winding corridor that funneled them into a tight walkway. At the end, they emerged in a circular room almost a hundred feet across. Along the walls, rows of seats set above the field of battle waited. They were already almost completely filled. Annja saw the Jiao women for the first time. They looked almost exactly like Hsusia, their blond hair and blue eyes seemed so different from their male counterparts.

The lead warrior pointed to the center of the floor. “You will stay here and await the queen.”

Annja nodded and waved to the rest of the team, who took seats in the row nearest to the action. They were perched about ten feet over the combat area.

Annja walked the length of the field, getting a feel for the arena. As far as she could tell, there was nothing to be suspicious of. The omnipresent light flooded out from the ceiling high above the field of combat. And like every other room in this place, the arena was constructed almost entirely of marble.

Annja shook her head. Who would ever have thought that she would end up in some underwater city, waiting for a fight to the death with a queen she didn’t even consider an enemy?

It was too bizarre to believe. But then again, so were a lot of other aspects of her life, she decided.

The good news was she felt great. Her strength had returned. The fever was gone. Annja squatted a few times to test her legs and found them springy and responsive. She did a couple of arm circles to warm up those muscles and she felt great.

Ready.

She breathed deeply, oxygenating her blood and ensuring she didn’t starve them unnecessarily.

The crowd watched her intently. This might be the first time they’ve ever seen anything like this, Annja realized. An outsider coming into their home to battle their queen.

She wondered if the Jiao were gamblers. Perhaps there were people in the stands eagerly taking bets on how long Annja would last against the might of Hsusia.

That was the problem, she knew. Trying to figure out how capable Hsusia was on the battlefield. If the painting in the hallway was to be believed, then she certainly knew how to fight.

But how did she fight?

If the circumstances were somewhat normal, Annja could have figured out if her opponent knew martial arts, was a brawler or just a gifted fighter. But down here? Who knew what they’d been exposed to or been forced to create out of the necessity for survival.

It presented a problem for her strategy.

As did the triple-barbed spear that she felt certain Hsusia would employ in her defense. Annja would have to figure out a way around that if she had any hope of surviving this fight.

The crowd suddenly fell silent.

Queen Hsusia entered at the other end of the arena. She was resplendent in bright green armor that seemed to cover her from head to foot. Annja frowned. She hadn’t expected armor. Now she’d have to figure out how to penetrate it and see if it had any weak points. Most armor, as impenetrable as it seemed, had weaknesses. It just took a sharp mind to figure out how it was constructed. Oftentimes, the individual pieces would be joined to other pieces. The locations of those joinings were the best place to attack.

But Hsusia’s armor looked as though it was one solid piece of a latexlike material.

Annja frowned. This would be tougher than she thought.

“Annja, we have been ordered to battle each other to the death by the glorious oracle that gives us life.”

The crowd roared its approval and it sounded like a thunderstorm had taken root in the arena as Hsusia’s people clapped and stomped their feet.

“There will be no quarter given.”

“None shall be asked,” Annja said. She figured she needed to at least be a part of the conversation. Maybe she could even win a few of the Jiao over to her side before this was over.

Maybe.

Hsusia looked immensely pleased. “It is my honor to fight you in this arena. I can see that you are a true warrior and you have my utmost respect.”

Annja bowed. “As you have mine. I wish the oracle in its infinite wisdom had not seen fit to pit us against each other. I would have preferred to call you my ally rather than my enemy.”

Again the crowd roared its approval. Clearly they liked what they heard from Annja. Well, that was one thing at least, she figured.

Hsusia held her hand up for quiet and the arena instantly fell silent. “When the signal is given, we will come out and not stop until one of us is dead.”

Annja nodded. “I understand. Are there any rules?”

“There are none.”

“So be it,” Annja said. “I have prepared myself.”

“As have I,” Hsusia replied. “Have you any final words before we begin?”

“I would ask one thing,” Annja said. “That you let my friends go regardless of the outcome of this battle. We have abided by your laws and the wishes of your oracle, but my friends do not deserve to be imprisoned here any longer than is necessary for us to battle.”

Hsusia considered this. “There is the final condition that must be met. One of your people must remain here. The others will be free to go, no matter the outcome. You have my word as ruler of the Jiao.”

“And if you are defeated in battle? Will your successor honor your wishes?”

Hsusia looked amused. “In the unlikely event that happens, my successor will indeed honor my final edict.”

Annja nodded. “Then the time for talking is finished.”

“It is indeed. Good luck to you, Annja.” Hsusia turned around and ordered the portals to be closed.

Behind Annja, the opening to the arena slid shut.

Annja took a few deep breaths and summoned the sword. An immediate gasp arose from the crowd. Annja had to smile. So they didn’t know that she’d come in here armed.

Well, that was one point in her favor at least.

Hsusia brought out a larger and longer version of the triple-barbed spear that Annja had seen in the painting.

Annja frowned. Apparently the artist got the dimensions a little incorrect, she thought. Oh, well.

Hsusia spun the spear as she stalked across the floor toward Annja. Annja kept the sword up in front of her. The goal was to close the distance quickly, get inside where the sword would be most effective and cut her down without giving Hsusia time or space to impale Annja.

Easier said than done, she decided.

Hsusia leaped into the air, twirling the spear as she did so. Annja saw her cut down the distance so fast that she barely had time to react. Hsusia seemed to be moving faster than anyone Annja had ever fought before.

That was confirmed less than a second later when the butt of the spear slammed into Annja’s ankle, sweeping the leg and knocking Annja flat on her back.

Wind rushed out of her lungs and Hsusia spun the spear, stabbing straight down with the tip.

Annja rolled backward over her right shoulder, came up and sliced at the head of the spear. Her blade connected, but rather than cut it in two, the spear shaft clanged and held.

Annja redoubled her attack, charging to keep the distance tighter. But Hsusia flipped the spear up and brought the butt down on the back of Annja’s head.

Annja saw stars and heard the roar of the crowd. They must have sensed that Hsusia could end this quickly.

Annja fought off the encroaching loss of consciousness and flicked her blade up and under Hsusia’s arms. She felt the blade connect, and despite the armor, Annja’s blade cut Hsusia’s left arm above the wrist.

Blood spilled on the alabaster-white surface of the arena.

A gasp erupted from the crowd.

This must be a first, Annja thought.

But Hsusia only smiled and nodded at the wound. Annja looked and saw the armor instantly seal itself up again. If there was an injury there, the armor would keep her from bleeding out.

How the hell did she do that?

Hsusia leaped away and immediately flipped the spear over so its point faced Annja. Then she charged and jabbed at Annja again and again.

Annja backpedaled away, using the blade of the sword to deflect. But the barbed heads were a double threat. Annja was able to deflect them but she also had to make sure the spearhead didn’t catch her blade on the pullback. Otherwise, Hsusia could easily and quickly disarm Annja.

Not that Annja would be unarmed for long. She could instantly regain the sword, but Hsusia was so fast that any moment unarmed would be a bad time.

Annja brought the sword up and feigned a downward cut. Hsusia stepped to the side and made ready to bring the butt of the spear down on the back of Annja’s hands. If the strike connected, it would crush the bones on the backs of Annja’s hands.

But Annja pivoted and dropped to one knee, slicing in a wide horizontal arc at Hsusia.

The move caught the queen by surprise. The edge of Annja’s blade cut into the armor again and she saw more blood flow.

But just as quickly, the armor resealed itself and any blood vanished from sight.

I wish I had a suit of armor like that, she thought.

“The oracle gives us many things,” Hsusia said. “Including this incredible suit of armor that has been handed down for many, many years.”

“Nice of you to offer me one of those,” Annja said.

But Hsusia merely smiled. “I think your time is almost at an end, Annja. It has been my honor to battle you.”

And then she spun and drove the spear in deep. Annja gasped, having missed the move entirely. She felt the metallic head of the spear pierce her side, turn and then rip outward.

Annja sank to one knee, clutching her side. That hurt like hell, she thought. Sweat ran down her face.

The roar of the crowd thundered in the arena and made Annja’s head swim. She was losing a lot of blood. It ran all over her hands, pooling around her feet. The sword dropped to her side.

Hsusia spun away and stood watching Annja for a moment.

Annja’s breath came in spurts. She tried to flush her system with oxygen, tried to energize herself, but she felt weak.

Hsusia sensed an opening and came running right at her, the spear point poised to pierce Annja through her heart.

Annja looked up and saw Hsusia rushing her full on.

At the last minute, Annja rolled and brought the sword up from the ground.

Hsusia ran right onto the blade.

There was the briefest resistance from the armor, but then it yielded to the sword and Hsusia slid down until her face was mere inches from Annja’s. The sword punched through her back, having pierced her heart.

Hsusia’s breath froze. Her eyes went completely black.

But a smile played across her face. Annja rolled her off and got to her feet, wobbled and then collapsed next to the prone form of Hsusia.

It was over.

The arena went deathly silent.

And then a roar went up from the crowd. The thunder grew in intensity until Annja thought the roof might cave in completely.

Hans rushed out of the stands and came to Annja’s aid. “Are you all right?”

Annja shook her head. “I’m losing a lot of blood. I need to get bandaged up or I’m going to die, I think.”

Hans clamped a hand over the wound and waved the rest of the team down from the stands. Annja heard him giving orders, but her world was drifting away.

Hsusia lay on the ground, an ever-widening pool of blood spilled out of her armor. Annja frowned. It was a shame that it had to end this way, she thought. Hsusia was a good woman.

And I’ve just killed her.

The blackness came again for Annja.

And she succumbed.

“W
AKE UP
, A
NNJA
.”

Annja groaned. “This is getting old, coming to like this.” She sat up and winced as pain lanced through her side. She looked down and saw the wad of bandages wrapped around her waist.

“Did it stop bleeding?”

Hans nodded. “We stemmed the flow and stitched you up. Not sure how long it’s going to hurt, though. Could be a while.”

Roux stood nearby. “You gave us all quite a scare, Annja. We thought you were dead.”

“Felt like it,” Annja said. She looked around, but the body of Hsusia had been taken away. The arena itself was empty. Apparently none of Hsusia’s people had stayed after the battle was over. “Where is everyone?”

“Holding a funeral for Hsusia,” Spier said. “There is a time of mourning for the Jiao now. I have no idea how long it will last, but we’ve pretty much been left alone because of it.”

Annja shook her head. “I wish this had gone down some other way. Killing Hsusia wasn’t necessary.”

“Apparently the oracle thought so,” Roux said. “And they do seem to do whatever it tells them.”

Annja frowned. “I’d like to know exactly what that oracle is. And how it’s able to exert so much influence here.”

Roux nodded. “Well, I may have the answer to that question. I’ve been thinking about it ever since you told me you were feeling sick.”

“And what did you come up with?”

“I believe that it is some type of radioactive device.”

“How is that even possible?”

Roux held up his hand. “Hear me out. The oracle supplies a constant stream of power to the Jiao. It powers everything here—the lights, the plumbing, everything. You reported that it needs a constant source of water around it. Water flows in cold and leaves hot. Much the same way the water is super-heated in nuclear reactors, right?”

“I guess.”

“And then there’s the fact that Hsusia said that every surface person who comes in contact with the oracle gets sick and dies. You got sick, as well, and nearly died if not for the fact that you had some extra help in the matter.”

“But how would they have ever gotten their hands on radioactive material?” Annja asked. “It’s not the sort of thing you just find lying around on the street somewhere.”

“True,” Roux said. “But some things do occur naturally. It would obviously be a very rare occurrence, of course, but suppose they did find it and were able to refine it in such a way that it became an object of fascination first and then, over time, an object of worship.”

“It makes sense,” Spier said. “Especially since the cataclysm might well have destroyed the official records that were kept pertaining to the object. Without the background, the Jiao would have concocted some other story that would fit with the nature of it. Thus, it became deified as a matter of course.”