ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (31 page)

Natalia’s feet grew heavier at every step she took to the dungeon. It was night time and everything had been put in place but she still didn’t feel at ease with her decision--
no, its decision
. When the talisman had told her, she had thought it was a mad thought of pity that was trying to cloud her judgment but it became a burning feeling in her chest that didn’t stop until she agreed to it.

She reached the bottom of the steps and the guards’ eyes turned in her direction.  King Lethman had honored her before his people but she could still feel their distrust. She lifted her eyes and saw grains of sand falling from the ceiling.
It had begun
.

‘My lady.’

She looked down and saw a guard bowing.

‘I would like to see my father’s prisoners.’ she said.

He led her to the cell and let her in, shutting the door after her.

Viggo and Amira sat side by side, holding hands. On seeing her, Amira rose. ‘What do you want?’

‘Contrary to what I’m about to do.’ Natalia looked at the ceiling. The grains were falling there as well. ‘I’m here to help you escape, both of you.’

‘What?’ said Viggo.

Natalia heard a crash, then shouts from outside. She looked up, the ceiling was cracking.

‘Leave the way.’ she shouted at Amira. The latter jumped towards the wall just as the ceiling caved in, bringing down stone and dust. A rope dropped down from the hole.

‘You must go now.’ said Natalia.

‘Why are you helping us?’ Amira asked.

‘It seems you’re better alive to me than dead.’

Amira and Viggo exchanged looks. The former said, ‘Then where are you taking us?’

‘To freedom.’

‘Why should we trust you?’ Viggo asked.

Natalia sucked in air and said, ‘Because if the noble do not honor their word then the very nature of their territory will fight against them, or did you not say so, Viggo?’

Viggo lowered his eyes. Natalia heard voices getting closer.

‘Go now!’ she said. Amira climbed the ropes first and Viggo followed. He climbed with ease. Natalia gaped at him.

‘What about your wound?’

‘I heal quickly.’ he said before disappearing into the darkness above.

Natalia heard footsteps at the door. She lay on the ground and closed her eyes.

‘My lady.’ the guard said, shaking her shoulder.

She opened her eyes and touched her head. ‘What happened?’

‘Do you remember anything?’

‘I saw the ceiling fall, then I felt a strike on my head.’

‘They’ve escaped.’ he said, seeing the rope. He helped her to her feet. ‘Come, you may be wounded.’

Her reply was drowned by the chaos of the prisoners being taken out of their cells. The guard took her out and told the other guards about the escape. Natalia held her head. It was throbbing and her heart was burning. She dropped on her knees. The guard helped her up.

‘We’ll search the grounds for them.’ he said and handed her over to another guard. ‘He’ll take you to the physician.’

‘I’ll find my way.’ She pulled her arm from the guard but she stumbled but they caught her in time and the guard led her out of the dungeons alongside the other guards and prisoners. She felt some strength return. She pulled away from him and ran.

‘My lady!’

‘Help the others.’ she said and ran to the back of the castle. Guards ran past her towards the dungeons. She burst out from the door and strode to the well. In the darkness, she saw three figures rushing towards it. They met at the well.

‘How do we escape?’ said Viggo.

‘You’ll go down the well and follow the currents. It will lead you to another well outside the palace. There you will find a horse with supplies waiting for you.’

‘Thank you.’ he said, taking her hand. ‘We owe you our lives. Say anything you want and I promise that it will be done.’

She pulled her hand away. ‘The only thing I want is that you swear on your life that you’ll never cause harm to my people.’

‘I swear it.’ he said. He took the rope and went down the well. They heard a splash.

‘Thank you.’ said Amira.

Natalia narrowed her eyes and asked the question that burned within her. ‘Why?’

Amira sighed and said, ‘You cannot imagine the depth of pain I feel when I have to look at you.’

‘What did I do that made you hate me so much?’

‘It’s not you I hate but the idea that you live a life I should have lived.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Amira.’ Viggo called from below.

Amira said to her, ‘They’re not my secrets to reveal. Good bye, Natalia, I hope I never see you again.’

‘For your sake.’ Natalia said as she descended.

The throbbing came again. Natalia groaned and rested her weight on the well.

‘What is it?’ said Anistral.

‘I feel like something is being taken from me.’

‘Ahhh…’ Anistral sat on the well. ‘That will be your cross to bear.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Do you know what happened when you gave your blood?’

‘I saved the city. How did you know?’

‘I only suspected.’ Anistral sighed. ‘This city is a lie. It didn’t need your saving. Now you are its protector, the city cannot fall until you fall.’

‘But that is a good thing.’

‘No, it’s not. You just went against the city that is why your blood fights with you. Darkness will come against this land and the evil will take from you until it kills you.’

‘But the talisman told me—’

‘It never told you to save the city. You chose to do so.’

Natalia was tired of arguing. ‘So what can be done?’

‘Nothing for the moment.’ Anistral rose. ‘I must go. It’s time for me to do what I was born to do.’

‘Don’t leave me.’

‘I’m not leaving you but this place. I thought here I would make peace but I cannot.’

‘Will I see you again?’

‘It will be sooner than you think.’ Anistral walked towards the castle. Natalia felt loneliness sweep over her.
Someone was leaving again
.

‘Anistral.’ she called. Anistral turned.

‘Thank you, for everything.’

She smiled. ‘No, thank you for coming.’ She walked into the castle.

Kalani stopped walking when they reached the gates of Helmford
.
It was a strange feeling for her, walking into the land Natalia would call home without knowing her ancestor was dragged in.  All Kalani wanted to do was run back but the guards pushed her forward. The crowd made way and chanted the praises of the princes as the army passed. The princes kept straight faces but the soldiers marched with more energy. The people stared at the captives. Amse walked with his head up but Kalani lowered her eyes. It felt like a walk of shame.

They were taken to the palace. The rahis and most of the soldiers stopped on the grounds, but the princes came down from their horses and walked into the castle with four guards pulling Kalani and Amse forward. They went down the corridor into the court hall. The court was crowded and the king sat laughing as they came in. His eyes fell on them and everyone turned in their direction and cleared the way.

A potbellied elderly man in white whispered something to the king causing him to smile. The princes bowed and Meldric said, ‘Father, we come bearing gifts from Seti; Amse, the sorcerer, and the spawn of Galian.’

‘You’ve done well, my sons.’ said the king, rising. He touched theirs heads and they left the way for him to approach the captives.

‘The great sorcerer of the
wastelands
.’ he said. ‘You had a sharp tongue when last we met. The bonds are on your hands not your lips.’

Amse replied, ‘Forgive my silence, Meino. I was looking for kinder words to describe your increasing ugliness. Dark magic doesn’t age you well.’

A guard struck Amse in the face and said, ‘You will not speak rudely to the king.’

              Amse chuckled as blood dribbled down his nose. ‘If only you could rule over your death, Meino, then your throne would be worth something.’ The guard struck him in the back, falling him.

‘Leave him alone.’ cried Kalani. 

The king turned to her, ‘So this is the spawn of Galian, dressed in rags or her royal robes.’ The crowd laughed and he smiled and said, ‘I expected more. I may spare you if you choose to bow before me.’

‘No, I won’t…bow to a murderer.’

He struck her face and she staggered back in pain

‘Is this the danger to our kingdom?’ Meino turned to Meldric. ‘Are you sure you brought the spawn?’

‘Yes, father.’

Meino laughed and said, ‘Today, we’ve shown that Galian has no power. Rinosius,’ he said to the man in white, ‘you’ll begin the questioning tomorrow. We’ll show them some Helmfordian kindness and let them rest tonight. Take them away.’

Meldric was tired and the last thing he wanted was to be dragged around the palace with his sister, Croesia, asking him about his journey. But he obliged her, he always did.

‘What about Mesianus?’ he asked.

‘He should be with his nurse in the garden.’

‘The garden?’

‘Yes. Have you forgotten that I told father we needed one?’

He sighed and rubbed his head. ‘Forgive me, I forget many things now.’

‘That’s why you need a wife.’

‘Croesia, I’ve only just returned.’

She smiled and held his hand. ‘But you know father wonders.’

‘If it bothers him, he would have told me.’

‘You know how father is. He won’t speak until he forces one on you.’

They came out into the garden and he said, ‘Croesia, while we’re on the subject, I noticed Lord Nisol’s son gazing at you in the court.’

‘Urgh! Meldric, I find our cousin as unbearable as a fly on nectar. He looks like a vulture. Even father despises him.’

‘Is there any young man father would ever agree deserves you?’

‘Of course.’ she said, smiling. Meldric laughed. He had missed home.

‘Father!’

He looked down and saw Mesianus running towards him. He took him in his arms and swung him in the air.

‘Father, where were you?’ he asked, laughing.

‘I went far away.’

‘Why?’

‘The king sent me.’

‘Why?’

‘You’re so full of questions.’ Croesia said, rubbing his head of curls.

‘Don’t go again.’ he said and rested his head on his father’s shoulders. Meldric held him tight. He wanted to protect him but the only way was to fight his sickness. He had to see Persis that night. He needed a cure before his son’s weaning or he wasn’t sure what would happen.

                                                                                    ***

‘Any word from Machish?’ said Meino as Rinosius was shown into his chambers.

‘Yes, my lord.’

Meino signaled for his servants to leave. When the doors were closed, he sat down and said, ‘What did he say?’

‘He wants the girl dead in seven days and the sorcerer in three.’

‘Excellent, I’m glad we’re in agreement.’

‘My lord,’ he said, ‘there are four sacrifices to be made to complete the ritual. The first will be an infant, then the sorcerer and the spawn would follow—’

‘We’ll pour her blood out as part of the feast for the festival.’ Meino said, clapping his hands in glee. ‘So what about the fourth?’

‘My lord--’ Rinosius came forward with his head bowed.

‘What is it, Rinosius? Say it.’

‘It shall be your first born son. That will be the ultimate sacrifice.’

The look on the king’s face and his words unsettled Rinosius even after he returned to the temple. There was a knock on his door. Akasha walked in and bowed.

‘Great father.’ he said.

‘It’s good to know you returned safely. Where is Maris?’

Akasha chuckled. ‘He almost died on the journey.’

‘As expected. He barely even survives in the temple.’ he said. ‘Where is he?’

‘He’s with the healers. They say he’ll live.’ Akasha said, sighing.

‘Why do you hate him? Is it because he betters you in every way?’

‘If he does, Rahmon, then why would you call
me
for your sacrifices?’

Rinosius rose and walked to the open window. ‘Because you are like me,’ he said, ‘and I want you to take my place one day. Everyone believes the gods thrive on animal sacrifices but those are nothing compared to innocent blood.’

‘Great father?’

‘Leave me.’ he said, with a flap of his hand. His mind was in a maze and he needed to think his way out.