The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) (30 page)

Nehrutu squeezed Mohanisi's shoulder, and
leaped to his feet. “I shall return as soon as I am able.”

The battle continued to rage. The Angrääl
soldiers had formed a shield wall around the main entrance to the
temple and managed to stop the elf advance. Several elves fell to
spears thrust from over the rim of the shields. Nehrutu drew in the
flow and a blast of air pushed the humans back. He could have
easily destroyed the line, but dared not use more force with the
elves so close at hand. Another blast pushed them back farther
creating a small gap. This was all Theopolou needed. He ordered the
elves in, and in seconds the line was scattered. The cries of the
dying mingled with the sound of clashing swords.

Nehrutu held back as the elves finished off
the remaining soldiers. Dozens simply threw down their weapons and
fell to their knees once it became clear the fight was lost. By the
time the courtyard was secure, hundreds of soldiers lay dead, along
with several dozen elves.

Without wasting a second, Theopolou ordered
the courtyard cleared, and began gathering the wounded. Several
elves wanted to enter the temple, but he told them to wait. Linis
climbed the wall and retrieved the bodies of his fallen
comrades.

“
The interior is vast,” said Theopolou
to Nehrutu, as he helped carry a wounded elf. “There may be many
more soldiers inside. And they will have had time to set traps and
prepare a defense. It may take time to dislodge them.”

“
The rear of the temple is blocked,”
said Nehrutu. “There is no escape. Perhaps you should offer their
lives in exchange for surrender.” He glanced at the prisoners who
had been herded against the north wall. “It would seem that they
have no intent to fight to the last man.”

Theopolou nodded. “And for that I am
grateful. Too much blood has been spilled this day.”

“
What will you do with them?” asked
Nehrutu.

Theopolou shrugged. “It is for the High Lady
of Valshara to decide their fate. It was Amon Dähl that was
attacked, and her people that were slaughtered when the temple was
taken.” He shook his head slowly. “I do not know if they will be
shown mercy.”

Nehrutu looked up to see Linis several yards
away, kneeling over the bodies of his seekers. “I am not certain
they should be.”

Theopolou tightened his jaw, then walked to
where the prisoners were being held. He picked one of the soldiers
and had him brought to the main door of the temple.

“
Tell any remaining that they are to
throw down their arms and come out at once,” Theopolou ordered. “If
they do not, then the Temple of Valshara will become their
tomb.”

The soldier nodded and enter the temple. More
than an hour passed before he returned. By then Selena and Kaylia
had joined Theopolou. Tears welled in Selena's eyes at the sight of
so many dead.

“
They will come out,” said the soldier.
“But you must promise they will be spared.”

“
I promise to burn this place down
around them if they don't come out at once,” said Selena,
furiously. “You tell them that I will send their ashes back to
Angrääl in a box.”

The soldier lowered his eyes, clearly afraid.
“Yes, my lady.” He turned and re-entered the temple.

A short while later the door swung open and
soldiers began to file out, unarmed, with their hands on their
heads.

“
What will you do with them?” asked
Kaylia.

“
Until my anger subsides, nothing,”
Selena replied. “I will not act until I am certain my mind, and not
my heart, speaks for me.”

They watched as the soldiers were led to the
north wall. Once they were all out, a small group of elves entered
to see that the temple was empty. A few minutes later, the door
flew open and a woman was shoved through, an elf holding a long
knife at her back. Kaylia recognized her at once.

“
Salmitaya,” she whispered, and drew
her knife.

Salmitaya stood there, defiant and proud,
dressed in a long black robe, with a silver cord tied at the waist.
Her light brown hair was pulled back and interlaced with white and
gold, bound together in the back by white silk.

“
I knew I would fall to an elf blade,”
said Salmitaya, glaring at Kaylia. “But I would not have it happen
by your hand.”

Selena stepped in front of Kaylia. “You may
yet save your wretched skin. I have heard your name
before...Salmitaya. And I have known of your evil works longer than
you think.” She grabbed Salmitaya's chin and forced her to look
into her eyes. “I also know that you are high in the council of the
Reborn King.”

Salmitaya jerked her head free of Selena's
grasp. “You know nothing, fool.” She shut her eyes. “Kill me and be
done with it.”

Selena scrutinized Salmitaya for a full
minute. “I may. Or perhaps I should send you back to Angrääl.”

Salmitaya's eyes shot wide.

“
Yes. That's what I'll do.” Selena
stepped back and smiled.

“
Please,” cried Salmitaya. “You
can't—”

“
I can and I will,” said Selena. Her
tone was low and dangerous. “Or do you wish to remain
here?”

“
I wish you to kill me,” she
replied.

“
I say we give her what she wants,”
said Kaylia, still holding her knife.

Linis approached. He snatched Salmitaya up by
the arm and shook her violently. “Who had the elves hung from the
walls?”

Salmitaya said nothing.

“
Answer him,” Selena commanded. “Or I
swear I will send you back.”

“
Yanti,” answered Salmitaya,
meekly.

“
Who is Yanti?” asked Selena. “Was it
he who ordered the taking of Valshara?”

“
You will find out soon enough.”
Salmitaya shook her head. “But understand that I know nothing of
value to you. I am disgraced in the eyes of my lord. If you intend
to question me, you will get nothing, for I know nothing. If you
set me free, I must continue to fight you. That is if I’m allowed
to live. So you have to kill me.”

“
It appears you fear returning to your
master more than you fear death,” said Selena, thoughtfully. She
looked up at the elf who had brought Salmitaya out. “Put her with
the other prisoners, for now. We have wounded to attend. I will
decide her fate later.”

Linis glared at Salmitaya, then released
her.

“
Do you think she will tell us
anything?” asked Theopolou, once Salmitaya had been led
away.

“
I don't think she knows anything,”
Selena replied.

“
Then why keep her alive?” asked
Kaylia.

Selena bowed her head. “As I said, I will not
decide anything until my anger lessens. Whoever Yanti is, it is
clear he escaped before we arrived.”

“
He may be among the prisoners,”
offered Theopolou. “If not, they may know where he has gone. I will
have them questioned.”

Selena nodded in agreement. “Thank you. Let
me know what you discover.”

The rest of the day was spent tending to the
wounded. Once Nehrutu cared for Mohanisi, he and Kaylia began
treating the most severe injuries. Mohanisi was too weak to assist
and was taken inside the temple and given a bed. Selena ordered
that the wounded from the first battle be brought in and soon the
entire courtyard was filled. King Lousis refused further treatment
until all of the men and elves had been seen to first. By nightfall
Nehrutu and Kaylia were exhausted, and stumbled from person to
person as if in a daze. Finally, Selena decided to intervene.

“
You must rest,” Selena said to Kaylia.
“We have other healers among us. You have already saved the most
critically wounded.”

“
I will rest when Nehrutu does the
same,” said Kaylia.

“
Then that time is now,” came the voice
of Mohanisi from behind. “I am well enough to continue what you
have started. I will take over until morning.” He strode off to
relieve Nehrutu.

Linis and a small group of elves were
gathering the bodies of their fallen kin, preparing them for the
funeral rites. King Lousis ordered the slain humans to be taken
back to Althetas. The bodies of the enemy were to be burned and
buried near the passage entrance, along with their weapons and
armor.

Selena found that her chambers remained as
she left them, with the exception of Salmitaya's clothing and a few
extra books. She ordered the bed sheets to be burned and replaced,
then she had Salmitaya's belongings packed away. She had a basin of
hot water brought in, and changed into a plain, tan cotton dress
and suede moccasins. Sitting in her plush chair she closed her
eyes, trying to push the visions of battle from her mind. Just as
she opened them, there was a light rap at her door. King Lousis
entered, with a guard helping him walk on his broken leg, followed
by Theopolou, Linis and Nehrutu.

“
It is good to see you back where you
belong,” said Linis, smiling.

Selena stood. “As soon as possible, I want
the injured in the courtyard brought inside the temple.”

“
We are already clearing out the
rooms,” said Theopolou. “I can have the beds ready within the hour.
Though I am not certain what to do about the prisoners. We cannot
keep them here indefinitely.”

“
I will decide what is to be done with
them in the morning,” said Selena. “Keep them under guard until
then.”

“
And Salmitaya?” asked
Linis.

“
I will speak with her again shortly,”
Selena replied. “She will be kept apart from the soldiers. We have
a small holding area in the west wing.”

“
I would like to be with you,” said
Linis.

“
No,” Selena replied. “I will speak to
her alone.”

“
Should you decide to spare the
soldiers,” said Lousis, “I can have my men construct cages in a
small compound outside Althetas.”

“
I will keep that in mind,” said
Selena. “How many did we lose in battle?”

“
More than three-hundred men and
elves,” answered Lousis. “Our enemy lost three times as many.
Angrääl will think twice before moving against us now.”

“
This was nothing,” said Theopolou. “A
skirmish, at best. When the Dark Knight sends his armies south, we
must be ready. This defeat may only serve to anger him. And it may
cause him to march sooner than he had originally
planned.”

Lousis furled his brow. “Are you saying we
should have held off our attack?”

“
Not at all,” Theopolou replied. “This
victory has solidified the bond between elf and human. And it will
show potential allies that our defeat is anything but
certain.”

“
It will go a long way toward helping
our cause when I assemble the kings and queens,” said Lousis. “That
must be my first priority. I shall leave tomorrow.”

“
Are you well enough to travel?” asked
Selena.

Lousis held his head high and smiled broadly.
“The King of Althetas will not be laid low by a broken leg, high
lady.”

Nehrutu leaned over with his hands
outstretched to Lousis' injured leg. “With your permission.”

The King nodded. “If you are well
enough.”

Nehrutu touched the leg, eyes closed. The
king gasped, reached for Nehrutu's shoulder, and cried out in pain.
The king’s guard rushed to his side, but by then it was over.
Nehrutu straightened his back and heaved a sigh.

“
It is done,” said Nehrutu.

Lousis tenuously put his weight on his leg.
He began stomping his feet hard as a low chuckle turned into a
full-on belly laugh. “If only my people possessed such power.”

Nehrutu smiled weakly. “Perhaps one day they
will. I cannot say with certainty that such abilities are beyond
your kind.”

Lousis slapped Nehrutu on the shoulder. “What
a wondrous notion.” He turned to Selena. “I must beg your leave.
Thanks to our elf ally I can see to my soldiers as a king should.
Unless you object, I will be leaving fifty men here to give you
aid, and I will send men and materials to repair damage done during
the battle.”

“
Your help is well-received, your
highness” said Selena.

The king bowed low and left, his guard
struggling to keep pace.

“
A strong leader,” remarked Linis, with
an approving nod. “We could use many more like him.”

“
Indeed,” Theopolou agreed. “And his
haste is warranted. We must decide our next course of
action.”

“
I intend to join Millet and Dina in
Sharpstone,” said Linis. “Angrääl will certainly move their armies
down the Goodbranch. If they secure it, they will have a supply
line leading all the way to Baltria.”

“
I agree,” said Theopolou. “But we must
remember that elf and human are not united there. Your presence may
be disruptive.”

“
I can ask Lord Ganflin for
assistance,” said Linis. “And Lord Broin as well. The sight of
human lords alongside elves may ease fears.”

“
Then you should depart with King
Lousis,” said Theopolou.

“
I will send what is left of the
knights of Amon Dähl with you,” Selena added. “Dina sent out a
general request for aid, and in light of the attack, I doubt many,
if any responded. I would not have her mounting a defense with
nothing but sell-swords. I can send instructions ahead of your
arrival by messenger flock.”

“
That will be wise,” said Linis. “If
Broin and Ganflin are able to help, it may take time for them to
assemble men and supplies. Millet and Dina should be made aware of
the situation as soon as possible.”