ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (41 page)

Maris couldn’t tell how long he had been in the dark room. His hands and feet were spread apart and his body ached. The room was hot and sweat streamed down his body soaking his clothes and causing his cuts to itch. He was dizzy but the pain couldn’t let him sleep. His feet were numb and soggy because of the rising temple water. The door opened and light streamed into the room, blinding his eyes like a hot flash. Akasha stood by the doorway with guards by his side.

‘Son of a whore,’ he said, ‘I thought you would be smiling after learning who your father is.’

‘Did you weep at night, Akasha, after learning who yours is not?’ said Maris. ‘Maybe yours abandoned you when he knew what you would become.’

Akasha rushed through the water and kneed him in the stomach. Maris bowed forward in pain but he couldn’t move much because of the ropes. Akasha hit him several times across the face till his sight blurred.

‘Take him.’ Akasha said to the guards.

The guards loosened his ropes and dragged him out of the room into the torture chamber. He saw Kalani tied with arms and legs stretched apart. She looked up and their eyes met. Blood ran down her face like sweat and she wheezed. Emotion welled up in him but he swallowed it down. He wished he had helped her escape.

Rinosius walked to her side and said with a smile, ‘Welcome, Maris.’

‘Please, let her go.’ he said, kneeling down in the water. ‘Take me instead.’

Rinosius chuckled. ‘We will take you but not today.’

‘So why am I here? To watch you torture her?’

‘Yes, but you’re going to be the one to do it.’

‘No.’ Maris said, moving backwards. The guards pushed him forward.

‘Bring out the whips.’ said Rinosius and a guard dropped a large green box on a table beside Maris. Rinosius opened it and displayed four whips. One was long with two raffia-made ropes, the others had spikes on them.

‘Choose one.’ said Rinosius.

‘No.’

‘I’m giving you a chance to save her life. I only need a bit of blood for the ritual and two of these whips are covered with a rare poison. If you can pick the one without, then you’ve saved her.’

Maris was silent, staring at the whips.

Rinosius said, ‘Or I could tell Akasha—’

‘No, I’ll choose.’ he said and glanced at Kalani. Her eyes were glazed and she shook her head vigorously at him.

‘You cannot save her by looking at her. She’s not holding the whips.’

‘Maris, you don’t have to.’ she said.

‘I do.’ He turned back to the box and picked up the raffia whip.

‘Excellent.’ said Rinosius, taking it. ‘You picked one of the best. This is called the needle. Innocent but it tears skin. Akasha, prepare the body.’

Akasha tore the back of her clothes from her shoulders down to her fleshy thighs. She didn’t struggle nor did she bend her head. Maris bent his. He felt her shame like it was his own.

‘Look up, boy, and see it.’

The guards forced his head up.

Rinosius said, ‘Pretty, isn’t she?’ He offered him the whip. ‘Now, you get your chance.’

‘No,’ he backed away, ‘I won’t.’

‘Akasha will then. I’m sure he looks forward to it.’

‘Very much.’ Akasha said, going for the whip.

‘Wait!’

‘Leave it be, Maris.’ said Kalani.

‘She wants me.’ Akasha said, grinning. He stretched the whip ends and said to Rinosius, ‘It’s wet.’

‘It must be the poison.’

Maris’ heart raced. He struggled to break free. ‘No, please—’

‘Begin.’

Akasha raised the whip and swung it on her back. Most of it went to her hair.

‘Hit harder.’ said Rinosius.

‘It’s her hair.’

‘Then cut that rag off.’ He tossed a knife to him and Akasha yanked her hair, cutting it grip by grip. Kalani’s eyes watered but she said nothing. Maris bent his head but the guards pulled it back up. His eyes were blurred with tears as the dark mass fell to the wet floor and the fullness of her face and slimness of her neck were exposed. He watched till all that was left on her head was bald patches with cuts on them.

‘Enough.’ said Rinosius. ‘Continue.’

Akasha picked up the whip and hit her again. This time it took skin with it. Kalani’s cry got caught in her throat. He continued with viciousness in every strike. The room was filled with the sounds of the whip and her cries. Blood ran down her neck, back and legs to the floor, reddening the water. Pale flesh was exposed beneath her skin and there was no space spared from the whip even her arms. Maris felt every strike on her like it was on him. Tears ran down his face and he shuddered.

‘Stop it!’ he said. ‘You’re killing her.’

‘Why do you think we’re here?’ Rinosius said, cleaning his hands with a silk cloth. ‘That should do, Akasha.’

‘Kalani.’ Maris said but she didn’t respond. Her head was bowed and her eyes were closed.

‘Take her back to her cell. If the bleeding doesn’t kill her, the poison will.’ He turned to Maris. ‘I’m sure you would like to be with her before she dies. Akasha, lock him up in the opposite cell so he can see everything for himself.’

Rinosius walked towards the door then turned, ‘Ah…yes. Let me rid you of your guilt. All the whips were poisoned except the one with the large thorns. If you had chosen it, then I would know you wanted her dead but without the poison.’

‘I’ll kill you, I swear it!’ Maris said, wrestling with the guards.

Rinosius laughed and left the room. A guard loosened Kalani’s ropes. She fell to the floor with a splash. Maris rushed to her without the guards stopping him. He reached to touch her face but she pushed his hand away as she shuddered in pain.

                                                                      ***

Garmar limped out of the battle ground. The queen had taken something from him just as he ripped open her side. Now he was weak and afraid for the first time in years.

Ove stood waiting for him at the base of the hill with a horse and Seraphin by his side.

‘Grandfather, what happened?’ Seraphin asked, rushing to him.

‘That witch took my powers.’

‘Then, my lord, you’re not strong enough to fight.’ said Ove. ‘We must leave.’

‘What about our army?’

‘You have something else to worry about. I found the real sword of Meldric in the hands of the girl I wanted dead.’

‘I thought you destroyed it.’

‘So did I but they tricked us. The girl still lives and your life is in danger.’

Ove turned into a horse and Seraphin climbed unto him while Garmar climbed the other horse.

‘Garmar.’

He turned to see a girl striding towards them with a sword in her hand and the fog following behind her.

‘Grandfather, we must go.’ said Seraphin, riding up the hill. Garmar turned to ride but the fog blocked his way.

‘Grandfather!’

‘Seraphin.’

There was no way he could pass. When he tried to enter the fog, a face in the fog appeared, causing him to move backwards. He turned to see the girl closing in. The fog had created a circular arena for them. He stared at her hardened face and gasped.

‘You! I knew I smelt a rat.’

‘I’m glad you remember me. At least, you would know who killed you.’

‘Lift the fog and I may spare your life.’

‘Only one of us will leave here alive.’

‘And you’re willing to give your life to face me?’

‘I’m not giving my life, I’m taking yours.’

Garmar edged backwards. Even if she carried the sword, he could still kill her. With a clap of thunder, a drizzle started. Garmar drew his sword and charged towards her. She leaped out of the way in time, landing on her knee. He turned and charged at her again but this time she wasn’t fast enough and he slashed her arm. She groaned and rolled onto the floor, getting mud all over her. He smiled and turned, riding in full force. She rose just before he was upon her and dug her sword into the horse’s neck. The horse raised its front hooves, throwing him and kicking the girl in the chest before it dropped to the floor.

Garmar was the first to recover. He had landed on his side and twisted his ankle. He winced, helping himself up. He heard her groan. She sat up, a hand on her chest, coughing. He limped to her and yanked her by her hair.

‘I wanted to go peacefully but you chose to fight me. Now, who has the upper hand?’

She pulled at his hand. He pushed her head into the mud and kept it there as she scratched him. He glanced around for his sword. It had been thrown out of the arena. The only sword was stuck in the horse and he couldn’t pull it out without letting go of her. That heightened his anger. He pulled her out and clenched her throat. She pulled at his arms and kicked him. He elbowed her mouth. She yelped, covering her mouth.

‘End your suffering and tell your cursed ghost to lift the fog.’

She spat a tooth and some blood in his face.

‘Proud to the end. You shall have your wish.’ he said and clamped down on her throat. She gritted her bloodied teeth and felt for a stone around her. Her hands grabbed at the wet sand and she pushed it in his eyes, sticking her fingers in them. He screamed and covered his face. She hit his neck and pushed him off her, stumbling to her feet. She dashed and grabbed the hilt of the sword, pulling with all her strength. Garmar staggered to his feet. His eyes burned and tears streamed out of them. He dived towards her. She pulled out the sword and moved out of the way, causing him to land forward. She dug the sword in his neck.

‘Now I have my wish.’ she said and staggered back as he lay dead. She dropped to her knees, taking deep breaths.

The fog moved closer, taking up the space. Natalia rose to her feet and looked around her. The fog came together and formed the image of a warrior in the likeness of the statue of Meldric that stood in Helmford. He approached her and stopped a foot away.

‘You are Princess Natalia.’ he said.

‘Yes, how do you know my name?’

‘You look like her.’

‘Her?’

‘Your great grandmother.’ He glanced at Garmar’s corpse. ‘He isn’t the only one. There is a second.’

‘I know but you must first help me end the war then I will avenge you.’

He nodded and walked towards the battle.

‘Wait.’ she said, ‘Who was she? What was she like?’

‘She was strong, a fighter like none I had ever seen.’

‘What was her name?’

‘Kalani.’ he said and his image dissolved into fog and spread into the battle ground.

‘Wait.’ she said but she knew that wasn’t the time. She would find out what she needed.

Kalani gasped for air as she was dragged to her cell. She stumbled many times but the guards were quick to catch her. The voices around her sounded far off like she was in a different world. The pain she felt made her shiver. She couldn’t bear being in her own skin. She felt blood dribbling from her cuts down to her legs and leaving a stickiness on her skin. She heard the flies buzzing around her, resting on her wounds. She cringed and her eyes watered. She got to her cell and Akasha hit her back, pushing her in. She yelped in pain.

‘Not so strong now, are you?’ he said, laughing. She lay down, resting her face on the floor, and she touched her bald head. She felt naked. She never wanted to see her reflection again. Maybe, it’s just as well she was dying. She looked up as Maris was dragged into the opposite cell.

‘My lord,’ said Akasha, bowing to him, ‘King of the dungeons, heir of death, I’m sure you wish it was you in her place.’

‘No,’ Maris replied, ‘I wish it was you and I was the one holding the whip. I wouldn’t have been as merciful.’

Akasha laughed and said, ‘If only wishes came true.’

He left with the guards. Maris paced the cell and kicked the bars incessantly. She shivered and felt her head.

‘Stop please.’ she said.

‘Kalani, please forgive me.’ he said, holding his head.

‘There’s nothing to forgive. I felt the same way when I came here.’

‘I wish I saved you.’

‘No.’ she said, tearing up. ‘Please don’t say such things. Regrets are a dark hole of more pain I cannot live with.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be. I asked for death and I got it. I’ll be with him soon.’

‘What about your father? Can you not pray to him?’

‘Pray’ she chuckled, ‘to a god who doesn’t know about me. Prayer cannot help me. My real father who believed in Galian died in this cell.’ She turned to him. ‘So why did they put you here?’

He sighed and sat on the hay. ‘Because I found out all my life has been a lie.’

‘How?’

‘They lied to me about my parents and now they want me dead to hide their lie.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Neither do I. I’ve served Machish all my life and all I have received from him is a miserable life and a far worse death.’

Kalani was silent, watching him. She knew no reply was needed.

‘They are going to kill me, Kalani, after everything I’ve done.’ he said, his mind elsewhere.

‘Then don’t be like me.’ she said. ‘Make sure you cause them pain before you die. That is my only wish now apart from dying.’

‘I’ll do it for the both of us.’

‘And for Amse.’ she said and closed her eyes, stroking the talisman. She needed to forget about her pain even if for a short while.

                                                                      ***

Viggo knelt over the bodies of his father and General Daril. He was surrounded by the dead bodies of the soldiers he had killed when they had challenged him as he knelt there. He clenched his fists and cried as he stared at his father’s face.
It was his fault
. He wasn’t going to leave his father’s body. It would be a dishonor.

He heard shouts around him. He looked up and saw the fog spreading amongst them and pushing the men on his father’s side back. King Calon rode around shouting, ‘Men, fight. Don’t be afraid of the fog.’

A force threw him off his horse and the soldiers were carried up in the air in hundreds and flung out of the valley. The fog rose and gathered above them, forming a face. It opened its mouth. Its voice caused tremors on the ground.

‘Who stands against my council?’

The soldiers ran back. Calon struggled to rise but he was trampled under the sea of running men. The drizzle stopped and the fog cleared. Viggo rose and looked up at the grey sky. The battle was won, but it didn’t bring relief for him. As he looked down at his father, anguish gripped his heart. He knew his battles had just begun.