ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (27 page)

Viden sat in a corner of the inn brooding as he gulped down his ale. He gritted his teeth.  His admiration for the throne had turned to loathing but he was going to prove himself right, that he knew. He felt eyes on him. He turned around and met the gaze of a man and woman draped in cloaks. They rose and walked towards him. He turned back to his table and started on his second ale. The man and woman sat on his table. He noticed their cloaks were made of velvet. They had to be rich.

‘I heard you’re the finder of lost people.’ the man said.

‘That was a long time ago.’ Viden said, throwing his face away. He didn’t want to be disturbed.

‘We have a task for you.’

‘Not even for the gold of a lifetime.’

The man chuckled.  ‘What if it’s Turbarnian gold worth three of your lifetimes?’ He brought out a sack of gold. ‘Then you won’t be a mercenary, you would be a prince.’

Viden dropped his tankard and untied the sack. He looked in and cleared his throat and said, ‘What do you want?’

The man leaned over the table. ‘We’re searching for the princess of Helmford. We heard she’s in this city. She’s a maiden with dark hair and eyes--’

Viden drew back. ‘No, it cannot be.’

‘What?’

‘I was thrown out of the palace because of her and you want me to find her?’

‘Yes, is there a problem?’

‘Do you want her alive or dead?’

‘Alive.’

‘I cannot have the girl who destroyed my ambitions alive. I must take her to the king and kill her myself.’

The man leaned back. ‘Now that is a conflict of interest.’

The woman with him spoke, ‘No, there is no conflict.’ she said to Viden, ‘If it’s honor you desire, then you’ll be honored in Turbarnia for capturing and killing her.’

‘My lady, how ruthless you are.’ the man turned to Viden, ‘So what do you say?’

Viden drank up his ale and said, ‘I believe I shall enjoy working for you.’

Kalani opened her eyes. Amse was asleep beside her and there was a blanket over them. She sat up and observed the camp. Two guards sat at a distance watching them and there were soldiers on patrol but, asides that, the camp was peaceful. They had journeyed from noon till well into the night and they would have continued if Sigrun hadn’t pleaded with his brother.

Kalani looked down at her clothes. Her tan
toub
was covered in dust and her reed sandals were wearing off beneath. She could feel every rock she stepped on. She sighed and looked up. Maris was coming towards them with two bowls in his hand.

‘You’re an early riser.’ he said, squatting to drop the bowls at her feet.

‘So are you.’ She added, ‘Did you put the blanket over us?’

‘You were both shivering at night.’

‘You shouldn’t have troubled yourself.’

‘No,’ he said, meeting her gaze, ‘it was no trouble.’  They stared into each other’s eyes.

‘Maris,’ said a rahi, startling the two of them. ‘Akasha says you must hurry and attend to the soldiers—so that’s where your blanket went.’

Maris lowered his eyes and said, ‘So he wants me to do his duties as well?’

‘Do you have a choice?’ the rahi said and walked away.

Maris rose. ‘I must go.’

‘Wait.’ said Kalani. ‘Why do you let Akasha treat you so?’

‘He is a higher rahi, but I mostly ignore him.’

‘Sit down.’ she said. His eyes darted about him in unease. ‘Please.’ she added. He sat down.

She smiled at him and said, ‘When I was younger, in Seti, the other children didn’t like to play with me and Fanndis so we were left by ourselves. Fanndis loved games but I enjoyed stories more. Whenever Amse sat down to tell me a story, she would take something of mine or pull my hair. I would ignore her, expecting Amse to do something but he did nothing. I thought it was because she was his favorite but now I know better. One day, when she pulled my hair, I slapped her across the face.’ Kalani laughed as a tear fell. ‘She lost a tooth and she went crying to Amse. He comforted her and sent her on her way. I was afraid of what he was going to do, but he put his arm around me and laughed. He said, “Now that is a way to keep yourself from becoming a victim.”’

Maris said, ‘But Fanndis was younger than you, wasn’t she? Akasha is different.’

‘No, he’s not
.
He’s a child who believes he can wave his strength like a sword not knowing it will be his downfall. Conquering him is not about strength but cunning. The idea of your power against him, that you know his secrets, would frighten him.’ She smiled. ‘That is how you conquer him.’

Maris gaped at her. ‘I’m surprised you haven’t done the same to me.’

‘You are kind but on the wrong path.’

He rose and said, ‘I have to go now.’

She nodded and watched him go. In his eyes, she had seen a reflection of herself, the way she was always the victim. It repulsed her. She wanted to be strong, to be free and there stood a young man who could be all but didn’t know it.

‘You make a good adviser.’ said Amse, sitting up.

She turned, ‘You were listening? Aargh!’

‘I had no choice, your voice was soothing. It’s admirable that you looked beyond your pain to help someone else.’

Kalani sighed. ‘Akasha is cruel. I hope Maris can conquer him.’

Amse smiled. ‘I believe your kindness will give him the courage.’

‘I hope so.’

‘Ah, finally! The words come out of your mouth.’

‘I blame you. You keep telling me that story—Amse, tell me about the Anundr.’

‘The Anundr is an
it
.’

‘An
it
?’

‘
It
is an entity that surpasses a he or a she and goes to the force of its soul. Its strength surpasses all and it’s both spirit and human.’

‘In other words, you’re not going to tell me who the person is.’

‘No, because the Anundr’s name has already been mentioned but neither you nor Natalia took notice.’

‘When?!’

‘Let me rest a bit more before we continue our journey.’ He smiled as he lay down.

Seraphin sat on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Watching her grandfather leave had shaken her. She remembered their conversation before he left the castle. He had held her shoulders and said, ‘Seraphin, you must be strong.’

‘Grandfather,’ she had said, ‘you are my strength. I wish you could stay till Ida’s day.’

‘It will be suspicious. Great King Garmar waiting for a foolish prince to make his decision. I won’t have such talk.’

‘But we are so close.’

‘That’s why you’ll remain here. I didn’t bring you to this kingdom to be queen but to destroy it. Don’t forget your life is at stake.’

Seraphin heard a knock on the door. She rose just as Gisilfried was shown in.

‘Gisilfried,’ she said as the door was closed behind him, ‘you’re indeed a man of your word.’

‘You wanted to speak with me.’

‘Yes.’ she said, moving towards the balcony. ‘I’ve dreamt of my wedding day since I was little. I knew everything I wanted to wear but my groom had always been a fog in my mind until now.’ She turned to him, ‘Your brother was never my taste, but you are.’ She walked towards him. ‘That’s why I chose to wait for you.’

‘My lady,’ he said, ‘I thank you for your sincerity but you must be patient.’

‘I don’t have patience nor do you have time to decide.’

‘How long do I have?’

‘Two days.’

‘Ahhh…Ida’s day.’ He added, ‘Seraphin, there’s a jewel you have with an unusual symbol.’

‘Which one?’

‘We both know there’s only one.’

She smiled. ‘It is a simple little thing.’

‘You have many qualities but simplicity isn’t one of them.’ He moved towards her.

‘It reminds me of life.’ she said, looking out of the balcony.

‘In this kingdom it represents death by the hands of Ida. It’s a symbol of power worn only by Ida’s priestess.’

Seraphin laughed. ‘What are you saying?’

He grabbed her arm and turned her in his direction. ‘I will not repeat myself.’

‘I’m not your enemy.’ she said, wrenching her arm away. ‘I believe your enemy is the one you pulled out of the well behind the castle. What a way to hide a beloved, is it not? That same enemy is in the library as we speak conniving with the keeper on how to destroy you.’

Gisilfried’s face lost color. ‘How did you--’

‘If I am who you say, then I can control the winds and forces created by Ida.’

Gisilfried moved back and opened his mouth but no words came.

‘What did you want to say?’ Seraphin said with a smile, ‘That you would take me to the king? We both know you have more to lose. And to think your father disowned your brother for a servant, what would he do to you if he knows everything?’

‘Where is it?’ he said through clenched teeth.

‘It’s safe.’

‘I won’t allow you to destroy my city.’

She reached out and stroked his face. ‘Then marry me or you’ll be an heir to desolation. You have two days and your time is far spent. Now, get out.’

She raised her hand and the wind threw him towards the door. He got up and said, ‘You won’t have your way.’ He stormed out and she smiled. They both knew she already was.

                                                                      ***

Anistral couldn’t get the smell of straw out of her mind as she and the other women shuffled home in silence. When they reached their street, they saw smoke rising from the direction of their house. They looked at one another, then broke into a run. What they met was a pile of ash and torn down blackened stones. Anistral gasped, while the other women were moved to tears.

‘No.’ said Ziati. Ethel dashed towards the building but the others held her back. Anistral took a deep breath to push down the emotions rising in her.

‘Our home gone!’ said Ethel, dropping to her knees.

‘And all our work.’ said Philani.

‘This is your fault, Anistral.’ Ferne said, turning to her. Anistral saw all their eyes on her.

‘I warned you.’ said Ziati. ‘I told you to leave the girl, that wherever she goes trouble follows, but you didn’t listen. Now, we’ve fallen just like Halldorr.’

Anistral knew the words were a mistake before they left her lips. ‘My sisters, we can rebuild.’

‘How can we rebuild in a place that’s about to be destroyed and where everyone already thinks the worst of us?’

‘Because the kingdom still needs us.’

‘But we don’t need them.’ said Ziati. ‘Neither do we need you as our leader. You’ve made too many poor decisions.’

‘I suppose you think you’re a better option. Tell me, where would you go?’

‘There are many places that would have us.’ said Ferne.

‘So you would be court seers, seers for money—you would corrupt your gift.’ Anistral said.

‘You already have.’ said Ziati.

‘But you cannot complete the clan.’ added Anistral.

‘You never did, but I’ll forge an alliance never seen or heard of in our world.’ Ziati turned to the women. ‘Sisters, who will stay with her and rebuild in a dead city or who will join me and reign once more in the world of men?’

From the looks on their faces, Anistral already knew their answer.

The army stopped. Kalani squinted as sweat ran down her forehead and got into her eyes. It was the middle of the day when the heat was highest and the mirages were frequent. She wasn’t sure she could trust what she saw at that moment.

‘Kalani, look.’ said Amse. ‘The Shittim Twine.’

Ahead of them were two trees bent towards each other and connected by their branches. Their leaves were few and dried up, and their roots were long and tentacle-like as they protruded from the earth. The trees stood at the edge of a cliff.

‘Maris.’ Meldric called from the front. Maris climbed down a horse and stepped forward with a knife in his hand. The soldiers cleared the way for him to pass. He stopped in the middle of the trees where their tentacles were smallest and he raised his hands.

‘Great spirits of the Twine, accept this blood for passage.’ he said and slit his wrists. Kalani gasped. Maris went down on his knees as his blood streamed to the ground.

‘They’re accepting it.’ a soldier said. Kalani saw the tentacles turn red and the blood move through them to the trunks and then up the branches. The leaves changed to a bright green and sprouted yellow flowers.  The branches grew and lowered its leaves and flowers like leafy curtains descending down the gap between the trees.

Maris staggered as the blood stopped flowing.

‘Bring the girl.’ said Akasha. ‘Let her finish it.’

Terror gripped Kalani as the soldiers grabbed her. ‘No!’ she said, struggling with them.

‘Leave her alone.’ Amse shouted but a soldier hit him in the face.

Maris turned and said, ‘Leave her, I’ll finish it!’ He slit his hands further. The blood flowed and the curtain continued its decent until it touched the ground.

‘The passage is ready.’ Maris said and dropped on the ground.

Kalani covered her mouth, feeling a pang in her heart. ‘No.’ she said and rushed forward. The soldiers held her back. Meldric turned to her with a raised brow.

‘Don’t leave him like this.’ she said.

Meldric turned to a soldier beside him. ‘Take him to the rahis.’

‘My lord, he should be dead.’ the soldier said and bent to touch Maris’ neck.  His face widened in shock. ‘He’s still alive.’

Sigrun said, ‘Meldric, he’ll slow us down.’

‘He sacrificed himself to hasten our steps. We should at least save his life, or would you like to be left bleeding as well?’

Sigrun said nothing and the soldier carried him to the rahis who put him on a straw mat and attended to his wounds.

‘Brother, we need to go.’ said Sigrun. 

Meldric nodded. ‘Give the order.’

Sigrun shouted, ‘Men, we move now.’

Kalani watched as the soldiers before her rode through the leaves. She had expected to hear screams but no sound came. When she got to the leaves, she stopped and took a deep breath.

‘Move.’ A soldier pushed her in. She closed her eyes and walked through it. She heard birds chirping. She opened her eyes and saw she was on a path in the middle of the forest. Ahead of her was the army and behind her was the Shittim Twine. Here, the sun was setting, the weather was cool and the place smelt of fresh leaves.

‘Where are we?’ she asked Amse.

‘We’re in the Havern forest.’ he replied.

The reality of Amse’s tale washed over her. Whenever he told her the story, she would create images of it in her mind but it was a different feeling walking into it. Then it dawned on her that she was the history that Natalia hadn’t even read about. It came with a sweep of overwhelming emotions. She wished she could shut out the world and not have to think about the gravity of her every step and its connection to the future.