ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (16 page)

Natalia flung her things into her leather bag on a table. The sun rays seeped into her room, lifting the fog but it did nothing to lighten the drained look on her face. Her mind had kept her awake as it kept revisiting the events of the night before. Everything she had experienced, even when she met the sick woman, was nothing compared to what she had seen.

It wasn’t even the isolation that followed after meeting Lamia that had agitated her. No one had spoken to her after it happened. Her food was served separately in her room by Ethel who was mute about why her face was always red as though she had been crying. The only voice Natalia heard was Lamia’s, calling her name in her dreams and in the corridors. She couldn’t sleep and she couldn’t leave her room without running across the hall. Anistral had been nowhere to be found until two nights after. As night fell, she had slid into Natalia’s room as the latter sat staring outside the window. Natalia had felt a cool breeze caress the side of her face as the fire from the candle before her bent in the other direction. She turned to see who had come in. She saw the tall, willowy figure of Anistral moving towards her.

‘Anistral, I--’

‘Shhh--now is not the time. You’ll do exactly as I tell you.’ Anistral leaned over her. The candlelight illuminated the graveness on her face. ‘Tonight by midnight, there would be a convening at the court yard. You must be there but you mustn’t be seen.’

‘Why?’

‘Because if they see you, they’ll kill you or they’ll try. It’s an abomination for you to walk into a convening and see us in our true form.’

‘What?’

‘I’m only here to tell you how.’ Anistral laid her hand on Natalia’s talisman and gasped, pulling her hand away. There was a burn where the talisman had touched.

‘What–your hand!’ Natalia said.

‘Nothing.’ she said, hiding her hand behind her. ‘
Ica ban debu seyku pa la hi
--Let the talisman guide you. It will open your eyes to see. Make sure you’re there but don’t be seen.’

‘How--’

Anistral slid out of the room. Natalia was stunned, but that had only been the beginning.

Natalia looked down to see what she had been packing. Her hands were shaking. She clenched them and took a deep breath. There was a familiar knock on the door, four quick raps before the door was opened. Natalia turned just in time to see Anistral walk in. Her face was calm except for the raised eyebrow as her eyes swept through the room as though looking for something unusual, then it settled on Natalia.

‘What are you doing?’ she said, her eyes widening in surprise.

‘What I should have done--I’m leaving.’ she said. She turned over her bag, pouring the contents on the table, and started repacking.

Anistral glanced at Natalia, then at the bag, sighed and sat down on the bed. She was quiet for several moments, unnerving Natalia as she kept repacking the same things.

Anistral finally spoke, ‘But where would you go? You can’t leave now.’

Natalia turned to face her. ‘And why not? After what I saw last night, I have every reason to leave. You don’t want me here--they don’t want me here.’

‘But we need you
here
.’

Natalia flung a cloth on the ground and turned away. ‘The truth is I don’t even know why I’m here.’ She turned back. ‘I don’t know who you are or why you saved me—I have so many questions. I feel like I’m trying to reach for something and I don’t even know what it is--like I’m drifting.’

Anistral picked up the cloth and gave it back to her. ‘No, you’re not. You’re in the right place.’

Natalia turned away from her. ‘How can I trust you when even you are keeping secrets from me? Staying will only endanger my life, and for what purpose?’

Anistral sighed and shook her head. ‘You don’t even have an idea of what you are.’

‘Then tell me! I want to know.’

‘There are oaths I cannot break--I’ve broken so many already--but everything you want to know is in the talisman you’re wearing. It isn’t just an ornament you know, it’s your heritage.’

Natalia sighed and rubbed her head. ‘I don’t even understand what you’re saying. Everyone speaks in riddles now. I want you to be honest with me and tell me everything you know. That’s the only way I can trust you.’

‘I promise to be truthful. Sit down.’ Natalia sat down opposite her.

‘What do you want to know?’ Anistral asked.

‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Anistral, the head of a small clan who have the gift of foretelling.’

‘What is my connection with Lamia?’

‘She helped predict your coming many years ago but I’m afraid it left her tainted.’

‘What do you mean by tainted?’

‘It’s a term we use in my clan when a seer can see no new prophecies but lives in the old one that scarred her. When we come together and chant, there is a force of power created. If a seer breaks or causes a breach--’

‘A breach?’

‘It means stopping to read the work. Every work contains plenty of power at the moment of creation. Stopping could kill the seer. The power created could blind or destroy her powers but that’s not the big problem.’

‘Then what is?’

‘When she becomes tainted, she’ll remain haunted by her vision. If she ever meets the object of her prophesy, the power returns and she dies.’

Natalia leaned closer and said, ‘So I was the one Lamia saw that left her tainted?’

‘Yes. You were in her eyes an unfinished work, a haunting reminder. It created an attachment that could only be broken by death.’

‘Now I understand why she died…I killed her.’ Natalia said and covered her mouth, rising.

‘No, her death was imminent.’ said Anistral. ‘It’s the curse of our gift, that’s why we stay in our clan.’

‘So that’s how you knew I was coming and you chose to save me. Why? Why did you bring me here if you knew this would happen? Now, Lamia is dead because of me. I’ve given them good reason to hate me--but I cannot join your clan. I cannot.’

‘You’re not going to, I’ll make sure of it. And they don’t hate you, it’s me they hate. I brought you here because I knew you wouldn’t survive if you were left in those conditions.’

‘But you could have chosen your kin. In the eyes of all, you would have been in the right.’

‘Yes, but I always keep my promises. I made two promises to protect you. Lamia made me promise to do it, knowing the consequences.’

‘Who else made you promise?’

‘A friend of mine who saved my life.’

‘Who was this friend? A seer?’

‘Yes, or something close to that, but even the prophecies predicted your coming. It’s written in the legends of Naphdael of the coming of the heir of Anundr into the land.’

‘Why do they call me the heir of Anundr?’

‘Because the same blood flows through your veins.’

Natalia paced the room. ‘That doesn’t make sense.’ she said. ‘The Anundr is an enemy of my kingdom. I can’t be his child. I am the daughter of the king and the queen of Helmford.’

Anistral laughed. ‘You don’t see beyond the obvious. It was the Anundr that gave you that.’ She pointed at the talisman. ‘Do you not know the talisman is a union of blood? It can only accept its blood line.’

‘Are you trying to say the king is not my father?’

‘If I told you the entire truth you wouldn’t believe me. Self-discovery is a lonely journey you must embark on to know why you’re here.’

‘Just tell me.’

‘I cannot break my oath. It’s better that I show you. Do you trust me?’

‘No.’

Anistral smiled. ‘I know I don’t deserve it but trust me now. Where we’re going, it’s the only thing that would keep us alive.’

‘Trust you say,’ Natalia said as they approached the high white gates of the palace, ‘when you lead me to peril.’ Her eyes darted about her. The road to the gate was an upward stony slope straddled with stalls and vendors.

‘I’m not here to betray you.’ Anistral said as she walked alongside her. ‘I knew you wouldn’t come if I told you where we were going.’

‘With good reason. It’s the palace. Why would you bring me here?’

‘I’m trying to get you answers. If you’re afraid, you can go back to the house or run away as you had earlier planned.’

Natalia sighed and adjusted her hood as they reached the gates. The grounds and walls were swamped with guards.

‘Who are you and what is your purpose here?’ asked a guard at the gate. He narrowed his eyes as they scrutinized them.

Before Anistral could reply, an approaching guard said, ‘Lady Anistral, it’s been a long time since I saw you come through these walls.’ He was a burly young man with a head of curly hair and a full brown beard.

‘Marquesda, I received summons to appear before the queen today.’ Anistral said. He signaled to the guards to open the gates.

Natalia gripped her talisman and looked down as they went in and the gates slammed shut. She shifted her gaze as she felt Marquesda’s scrutinizing eyes on her.

He said to Anistral, ‘Who is the maiden with you?’

‘She’s one of my weavers. Does she frighten you?’

He grimaced and turned around. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘I’ll show you to the queen.’ He strode ahead, leading them towards the side entrance of the castle. Guards stood at every corner, from the top of the walls to the entrances.

‘Why are there so many guards here?’ Anistral asked as though she was reading Natalia’s mind.

Marquesda said gruffly, ‘That’s a matter too high for me to discuss.’

Natalia’s eyes darted from side to side. She could feel the guards’ eyes on them as they walked the long strip of grass from the gates. She walked behind Anistral and kept her head as low as possible while her eyes scanned the area, watching for any sudden movements towards her. They reached the side entrance. From her bent angle, Natalia could see two sets of boots at the door. She lifted up her eyes, taking in the chain mail armor, the metal shoulder pads and the helmets. As she moved closer, she finally settled on their faces. Condescension was the only term to describe the look in their eyes. She lifted her head up and straightened herself in indignation. The look passed as the guards’ eyes turned towards the gate when the cries ‘Clear the way.’ ‘They’ve returned.’ were heard. Natalia heard the shuffle behind them as the gates were opened. Marquesda stepped out of the entrance.

‘Lady Anistral, you would have to excuse me.’ he said, his gaze fixed at the gate, ‘I need to attend to the prince. You know the way to the queen’s chambers.’

‘Of course.’ Anistral said. He hurried past them down the path they had come. Natalia turned around. Soldiers had ridden in and were getting off their horses. Her eyes fell on Prince Gisilfried as he dismounted. She felt a squeeze in her stomach.

‘My lord, welcome home.’ Marquesda said. Gisilfried turned and he and Natalia’s eyes met. She gasped and hurried inside.

‘What is it?’ Anistral asked, trailing behind her.

‘Nothing.’ she said as a small group of people passed. She whispered when they were out of earshot, ‘Of all the days we could come, why today?’

‘Is it because of the prince? Are you afraid of him?’

‘No, of course not.’ she said, straightening herself. ‘But I’m not supposed to be here. I lied to him.’

‘Everything will be fine.’ Anistral said with a smile, rubbing her back.

‘Is that what your gift shows you?’

‘Why, yes. It’s either we come out fine or you get killed. Either way.’

‘Are you gambling with my life?’

‘No, but it doesn’t take a seer to know the odds especially since you are armed. Come along you.’ Anistral said, striding ahead.

‘So are you really going to see the queen?’

‘Yes. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have a reason to be.’

‘What? Why didn’t you tell me? Are you trying to get me killed?’

‘Calm down and listen to the voice in you.’

‘What?’

‘I said
listen
.’

Natalia exhaled noisily and grasped her talisman, closing her eyes. What she saw next chilled her blood. She gasped, placing her free hand on the wall for support.

‘Natalia!’

She opened her eyes and found herself on the floor with Anistral squatting over her. Passersby gazed and whispered as they walked by. She turned her attention back to the concerned face before her. Anistral’s eyes glowed a vibrant green over her pale wrinkled skin. Natalia blinked.
It was either she had started seeing things or Anistral’s eyes had changed color again.

‘Natalia, what is it? What happened?’

‘I--I can’t explain it.’ she said as Anistral helped her up. She rubbed her temples and leaned on Anistral for support.

‘Maybe you should go home and rest.’

‘No. We’re here to get answers and I swear by all I hold dear that even if I have to meet dragons, I’ll get answers today.’

‘My--what a change.’ Anistral said, smiling. ‘However, I’m not sure there are any live dragons at the library where we’re going, except the ones in the scrolls.’

‘The library? I thought you said we were going to see the queen.’

‘Yes, but I never said she was our priority. Did you bring the parchment as I instructed?’

‘Yes, it’s in my bag.’ she said, patting the leather bag straddled on her shoulder.

‘Good.’ Anistral said, ‘We’re here for answers. The queen can wait.’

                                                                      ***

‘My lord, what is it?’ Marquesda asked, glancing behind him to know what had caught the prince’s attention.

‘Nothing.’ Gisilfried said, turning back to him. ‘I thought I saw someone.’ He couldn’t believe who he thought he saw. He turned his attention to his horse and stroked him before the guards took the steed away.

‘Marquesda, where is the king?’ General Tharstin asked as he got down from his horse.

‘Father,’ he said, ‘the king is in the great hall. He’s been expecting you.’

‘Get the men some food. I and the prince will go and see him.’ he said, moving to the main entrance.

‘Father,’ said Marquesda, ‘what happened to the other men?’

‘Death happened.’  he replied and bounded up the entrance with Gisilfried at his heels.

‘More wine!’ was the echo that greeted them as they stepped into the throne room. King Lethman sat drinking on his throne with Viden standing beside him. Beads of sweat rolled down his face into his grey beard as he took swigs from his goblet. The place was deserted except for a few guards strategically positioned in the corners of the room and the steward that hurried in and out with a wine pitcher to refill the king’s goblet.

‘Welcome son and general.’ Lethman said. ‘What news from the witch?’

‘My lord,’ said Tharstin, ‘she said the owner of the sword is indeed with the jewel.’

‘Ah! I knew Helmford had a hand in it. They will pay.’ Lethman said, dropping his goblet and wiping his mouth with his sleeve. ‘How can we find her?’

‘She is being protected by a cult or coven in the city.’

‘That’s impossible.’

‘That’s what I said but the witch spoke of the witches gaining their powers back.’

‘So how do we find them?’

‘My lord,’ said Gisilfried, ‘we would have to spread the news around the city.’

‘But it would cause an uproar.’ Tharstin said, facing him.

‘Not if a handsome reward is attached to it.’

‘Your method could take weeks which we don’t have and we don’t even know what she looks like. She may escape before we find her out.’

‘So what would you have us do?’ Lethman asked, resting his chin on his hand.

‘I say we meet another seer who could give us something more.’ said Tharstin.

The king said, ‘Have you forgotten that every other seer would rather see us destroyed than help us?’

‘My lord, maybe for a price--’

‘They are bound by a code of loyalty so they cannot be trusted.’ He turned to Gisilfried, ‘I believe something can be done without us making it public. We don’t want them aware that we are looking for them. Tharstin, send your best men in the covers of darkness through the streets, inns and alleys. I want to hear every whisper, every myth and every dark gossip there is. Viden, you know what she looks like, don’t you?’

‘Yes, my lord, I cannot forget her face.’

‘Good, then you’ll work with my son to find her.’

‘My lord, this is an honor I am most unworthy of.’ Viden said, falling to his knees so quickly that even the king almost knocked his goblet down as he recoiled. Tension swept through the hall as even Tharstin and the guards reached for their swords. Gisilfried raised an eyebrow but did nothing. The mood passed as Viden rose.

Lethman took a deep breath and took a long draught of the remaining wine in his goblet. Gisilfried looked down. It was hard for him to watch his father debase himself in such a way.

‘Gisilfried.’

He looked up. His father had stopped drinking but he still had the goblet in his hand. He said, ‘Question the guards who were on the wall that day she came into the city. Something useful may come out of them.’

‘Yes, father.’

‘Viden, help my son find her and you’ll have a handsome reward.’

‘The greatest reward would be to remain at your service.’

‘It shall be done, and that goes for anyone who finds her.’ he said, moving his goblet around the room.

‘Tharstin, we’ll discuss later tonight. You may all go.’ he said, signaling with a wave of his hand. ‘But not you, Gisilfried.’

‘Yes, father.’

‘Come closer.’ he said. The prince moved closer as the hand signaled until he was ear to ear with the king. ‘How was the visit to the witch?’ he whispered. The pungent smell of wine and splash of spittle assaulted Gisilfried’s face.

‘We lost many men--’

‘That isn’t what concerns me.’ He pulled the prince’s head closer to his mouth. ‘What did she tell you? Did she say anything…strange?’

‘My lord, she’s a witch, she would always say strange things. Why do you ask?’

Lethman released him. ‘Nothing.’ he said, avoiding his son’s eyes. ‘It isn’t important.’

Gisilfried stepped backwards. ‘May I go now?’

Lethman nodded his head. ‘You may go—more wine!’

Gisilfried left the hall the way he had come. Viden stood at the entrance waiting for him with the Helmford sword in his hand. Gisilfried glanced at the sword, then at Viden’s face.

Viden said quickly, ‘The general gave it to me. He said he has no use for it anymore.’

‘I see. Come.’ Gisilfried said and walked towards the side door.

‘My lord, it’s an honor to stand beside you in such a time for our kingdom.’ Viden said as he hurried to keep up with him. Gisilfried gritted his teeth. He had wanted to do this on his own but he now had a minion with him.

‘Where are we going?’ Viden asked.

‘We’re going to gain knowledge about our adversary.’

‘But we were told to meet the guards.’

‘What would you do if you ever faced her again?’

‘I would slit her throat.’

‘But she’s grown stronger and it’s written that no weapon made from nature could kill Ida. We now contend with a priestess of Ida who embodies the powers of the goddess. So I ask again, what would you do if faced with her?’

‘I…uh…I--’

‘Would die.’ Gisilfried said. ‘We must first know everything about what we’re facing so we wouldn’t be fighting shadows.’

‘What if we find nothing?’

‘It’s the library of Naphdael, of course we’ll find something.’