The Wanderers of the Water-Realm (55 page)

In return, the Hix would be given control of the mouth of the Portal, the nearby ‘City of the Ancient Dead’and the lake upon which it stood. After a protracted bout of haggling, the Prime had relinquished its claim to the remaining territory north of the Exit River and had agreed to accept a seldom used overland route between the main Hixian’homeland and the area close to the portal; a route that would be demilitarized and free from all forms of conflict.

Myra delved into her medicine bag and drew out a vial of powder that had strong restorative properties and she stirred it into a beaker of water. She drank deeply and ordered her companions to consume a similar draught before dining upon the badly cooked leg of wild narr provided for their refreshment.

Afterwards, the trio sought the comfort of their sleeping skins and they knew no more until roused from their sleep by the huge attendant, who requested them to re-enter the council chamber for a final meeting with the Hixian’ leadership.

The council chamber was empty, save for the figure of Prime Three who stood alone in the centre of the room.

“Your business here is now completed!” He said.

“Word has already gone out to all Hixian’warriors who are fighting beyond our borders, to cease all offensive activities and to defend themselves only if attacked; You must now return to Ptah with all speed and explain the terms of the new treaty to the Dark Priests. Once they agree, then the final details of the agreement can be left to our respective underlings.”

Prime Three advanced and touched each of the travellers upon the shoulder.

“In the name of my race, I thank you for the considerable risks that you have undertaken and also the suffering you endured, in order to secure this peace treaty. We will send you back to human occupied territory by the fastest and safest route possible and your return journey will begin at once.”

The Prime paused.

“Do you wish to ask me any further questions before taking your leave of us?” He asked.

“I have one question, Prime Three.” Myra said. “We have friends who await our return in the lands of the Kev. I may not be able to contact them by the power of my mind due to the great distances involved. How can the seer who accompanies them be told that we shall not be returning by the expected route?”

“This can easily be accomplished. “The Hixian’ leader replied. “We can unite the power of our minds and your mind-message will easily reach into the brain of the seer in the distant lands of the Kev.”

Prime Three closed his eyes and the same instant the wisewoman experienced the now familiar disturbance in her brain

“Quickly, send your message now.”

Myra concentrated all of her reinforced mental powers and cast a thought-message across the vast wastelands of the Hix and over the high mountains to the village where Paris, her former lover, slept under the roof of the Kev chieftain.

“Paris -- I know that you can understand my thoughts -- I am contacting you from the land of the Hix, in order to tell you that our mission has been successful and that you need await our return no longer -- You must now endeavour to make your own way back to Ptah -- Alone and un-aided -- I give you my love and wish you good fortune and ---- ”

The mental contact between Prime Three and herself suddenly disappeared like a snuffed out candle.

“Enough,”

said the voice of the Hixian’leader in her mind,

“A further expenditure of your mental powers would require you to rest for a long period --- But that cannot be --- For you must travel at once with your friends.”

George interrupted by rapping upon the side of the bench.

“One thing mystifies me, Prime.” He said. “You and the other council members are obviously much weaker than any of the Hixian’ warriors who brought us to this place and some of your number are also physically disabled into the bargain. Tell me, how did you and your fellows survive your upbringing in the rearing chambers of the Hix where the weak are always killed and eaten?”

Prime three released a mirthful hiss.

“A good question human, as you have obviously been told, only the strongest may survive the rigors of the rearing chambers and become warriors in the fighting ranks of the Hix. Even so, a small number of physically weak individuals do manage to reach adulthood -- But only through the possession of superior intellectual ability and enhanced psychic powers, which they use to protect themselves against their brutal siblings -- These gifted one’s are specially trained to become administrators such as Z3*554, the Hixian’guide who brought you here to the ‘Heart of Emerald.’ Some very few, who display exceptional mental powers may be granted a Prime identifier and become a member of the council that leads the entire Hixian’ race -- I am such a survivor!”

Prime Three stated that no time remained for answering further questions and he handed the wisewoman a roll of parchment inscribed with a number of intricate symbols.

“We know that you must travel far, in order to reach the portal enabling you to return to your own reality. Only a few Hixian’ families still manage to exist in the far-flung regions. But if you ever need their assistance, then show them this parchment and it will obligate them to give you all the help and protection that lies within their power.”

He pointed decisively towards the door of the chamber where Z3*554 was standing.

“Go now -- Earth-folk -- The light of the five suns will soon illuminate the wilderness of the Hix and you have far to travel before they set ---- Go, and may you all live to feel the warmth of the single mighty sun, which is said to light your own planet!”

T
he return journey to Holy Ptah was accomplished within the space of one hundred darkenings and little over a cycle of Water-Realm time had elapsed before the travellers found themselves, once again, within sight of the shining copper walls of the Holy City. Even so, the journey had not been accomplished without much effort and a good deal of danger.

The newcomers had taken leave of the Hixian Prime and led away from ‘The Heart of Emerald’ by Z3*554 who had been detailed to command their escort and protect them until they were clear of Hixian’ territory and reunited with forces loyal to the Dark Priests.

The escort had consisted of no less than one hundred experienced fighters and once again, they were carried along in litters borne by relays of warriors.

The first leg of their return journey, from the ‘House of Emerald’ to the beginnings of the great Thoa forests, had been accomplished swiftly and with comparative ease, for it lay across the wastelands of the Hix and few natural barriers existed to delay their progress. However, once they had passed beneath the shadow of the great Thoa trees, their progress was frequently impeded by fallen timbers often supporting an almost impenetrable mass of prickly creepers. Fast flowing streams had occasionally slowed their progress and were crossed only with reluctance by the water hating Hix.

Eventually, the travellers had been forced to abandon the litters and henceforth they had followed the Hixian’ advanced guard, on foot, as it strove to force a passage through the tangled undergrowth.

The forest, however, had provided them with an abundance of nutritious food, for fallen Thoa-nuts lay on every side and the Hix often struck fresh one’s down from the trees with their long spears.

After four days spent struggling through the woodlands, the expedition had encountered a number of broken ruins that, sometime in the past, had marked the eastern-most boundary of human occupation. On the sixth day of their woodland trek, they encountered an abandoned road that ran in a westerly direction and allowed the expedition to pass through some of the densely wooded areas without undue difficulty. Finally, after a further ten days of hard marching, the great stands of Thoa trees had begun thinning and stretches of the common red moss began taking their place and Z3*554 had informed them that they were approaching the western edge of the great forest.

Signs of former human habitation became ever more frequent as the trees thinned. Deserted farmhouses, surrounded by untilled fields, were often encountered, whilst ruined hamlets strewn with the bones of their former inhabitants became a familiar part of the landscape.

The forest road joined a larger highway and there was much evidence of the bitter conflict that had recently taken place between the Hixian’ and human armies.

The decomposing corpses of slain warriors lay in substantial numbers upon the road verges and many of the opposing fighters were locked together in the final embrace of death with their shattered weapons still in their hands.

As the expedition reached the open plain, they came across the site of a bitter battle where the unburied corpses could be counted in thousands. So great had been the slaughter, that each member of the expedition had to clamber across a veritable field of dead Hix that must have stretched for a good half a mile across the open plain. The Hix showed few signs of mutilation, but tiny poisoned darts were protruding from the bodies of the slaughtered warriors and this grizzly evidence showed they had encountered one of the human mercenary units whose principle weapon was the deadly ‘Perm’.

For fully half a mile beyond the dreadful barrier, was spread a carpet of human and Hixian’ corpses mangled and twisted by sharp weapons that were normally used in hand to hand combat; the travellers had no choice but to carefully pick their way across the dreadful scene of carnage.

However, it was quite obvious that the overseer’s mercenaries and their local allies, had suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Hix, for many of their technically advanced war engines lay smashed and the bodies of their highly skilled operators were strewn around them like common chaff. The magnitude of the disaster was further emphasized by the corpse of a Dark Priest, whose body was pinned to the ground by a sheaf of long Hix spears.

After a further two days of hard marching, the expedition had finally made camp alongside a major tributary of the Red Bank River. Z4*554 had told them that a small force of the overseer’s mercenaries was holding a rearguard position about a mile downstream from their present location. The Hixian’ leader said he believed that one of the young officers, who commanded this detachment, possessed limited telepathic powers. He had suggested that Myra should use her own telepathic abilities in order to contact him and to arrange for a safe passage thorough the mercenary’s lines for herself and her two companions.

The young witch had quickly succeeded in merging with the officer’s mind and an arrangement for a safe conduct was soon made. Afterwards, the trio and Z3*554 made their farewells and, within the hour, the travellers were secure within the ranks of the overseer’s mercenaries.

The officer who was in charge of the rearguard had fortunately been instructed to keep a good look-out for the returning expedition and he placed them aboard a small fast galley that transported them down a tributary of the Red Bank River to the fort at Yam and greeted with immense relief by old Camdar who was still in command of the garrison. The overseer had commandeered the first sizeable river craft arriving at the nearby river-port and the three travellers, together with their strong military escort, had proceeded downriver until they came, once again, within sight of the Holy City of Ptah.

Myra was almost weeping with joy as the river craft drew alongside the wharf serving the city’s bustling business district. The moment she stepped ashore, she felt as though a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders, for she had been perpetually conscious of the fact that the success or failure of the mission had rested upon her largely untried psychic abilities. Even so, she suppressed her feelings and was perfectly composed when she descended the gangway with her two companions.

Amilitary escort awaited them on the quay and they boarded a man-hauled passenger cart, which they knew would take them into the sacred portion of the city and to their expected meeting with Councillor Hemm and possibly other influential members of the dark priesthood.

Once again, they crossed the great metal bridge spanning the Life River and soon they were moving swiftly along one of the holy cities main thoroughfares, which, as ever, was unbelievably crowded with blue uniformed helpers engaged in the seemingly endless task of shepherding the huge throng of visiting worshippers between the various chapels dedicated to the veneration of the ‘Ancient Lore.’

The man-hauled vehicle eventually turned into the familiar side-avenue leading to the traveller’s immediate destination; the colossal metal tower housing the main headquarters of the Dark Priests. They were met at the door by a brown garbed overseer, who led them inside the structure and up one of the weightless elevators to the chamber of Councillor Hemm. He greeted them with obvious pleasure.

“Welcome back to Holy Ptah!” said the priest as they crossed the threshold.

“I must congratulate you upon your successful mission to the lands of the Hix and also upon your safe return.”

“I think it would be advisable for you to withhold your congratulations until we have fully explained the nature of the peace we have negotiated with the Hixian’ Prime, on your behalf,” the young wisewoman answered quietly. “For the terms may not be to your liking!”

The Councillor gesticulated towards a comfortable couch that was situated in the centre of the room. “Be seated.” He said. “Then take your time and tell me everything that has passed in the land of the Hix.”

The trio obeyed and for a full Earth hour, Myra related every single detail of the journey and of the hard negotiations she and her companions had conducted with the Hixian’Prime. Finally, she lapsed into silence and awaited the Councillors reply.

“You have all done well.” Hemm said after a short pause, “For you have certainly obtained the very best terms that we could have expected from the Hix. In accordance with this new agreement, we shall immediately dispatch numerous envoys to the borderlands with instructions to thrash out local territorial agreements with their former enemies.

We shall also begin making the necessary arrangement needed to transfer the last remaining portal into the Water-Realm, to the control of Hixian’ officials.

Once again, in the name of the Priesthood of the Ancient Lore, I thank you all for your assistance in securing this peace!”

The Littlewood twins received the priest’s words and maintained a tactful silence whilst the old man ordered refreshments, but George fearlessly blurted out a pair of extremely thorny questions.

“Councillor, you must have considered the possibility that our new treaty may begin an unstoppable chain of events, leading to the abolition of the rule of your dark priesthood in this reality. Or will you only countenance this treaty until such times as you are able to devise some revolutionary new strategy for defeating the Hixian’ tribes?”

The Councillor shook his head.

“We will never break this treaty with the Hix, for its success is vitally important to the Water-Realm humans who are currently dependent upon us. If we eventually lose control of our subjects, then so be it. All races must change and evolve or be cast upon the dunghill of time. We Priests of the Ancient Lore are no exception to this rule!”

Hemm paused for a moment before continuing.

“The priesthood is deeply in your debt and the time has now come for us to repay it as best we may. We promised to give you the location of the portal to your own native reality, if you survived your mission to the lands of the Hix; this promise I will now honour.”

The Councillor took a deep breath.

“A vessel faring south along the Life River from the City of Ptah, will reach the northern border of the mighty Empire of the Kaa-Rom after only four days sailing. Yet this same vessel will need to plough the waters of the river for at least half a cycle before reaching the Southern Sea where the great waterway terminates.

This sea also forms the southern boundary of Ka-Rom influence.

Beyond this great body of water lies a mountainous region that is sparsely inhabited by fierce warrior clans who are constantly fighting with each other.

In the midst of a mighty range of mountains, there stands a gigantic spire fashioned from the white metal of the ancients and is said to tower above the highest natural peaks. At its base is a deep cavern containing the portal that leads to your own world!”

Hemm stopped speaking for a moment and allowed his gaze to sweep over the three travellers.

“The journey from Ptah to the high mountains lying beyond the Southern Sea is long and dangerous. It must be accomplished within exactly five cycles after your arrival in theWater-Realm, for the curtain separating our realities will be at its weakest and it may possibly be crossed by those who possess the necessary occult powers. You must therefore reach this southern portal in less than three cycles, for two full cycles have already elapsed since you first trod the soil of the Water-Realm….”

“You say that we can reach the Southern Sea in about half a cycle!”

Darryl interrupted. “That will give us well over two cycles for crossing yonder sea and trekking inland to the portal. Presumably we have time to undertake the journey at our leisure?”

Councillor Hemm shook his head. “Not necessarily my friends,” he replied.

“The distances involved are considerable and many obstacles lie in your path.

Firstly, you must cross the mighty Empire of the Kaa-Rom, a vast stretch of territory, ruled with a rod of iron by ‘Claudius Rufinius’ the Legate who currently holds the baton of First Tribune. The Empire is governed from its capitol, the great City of Deva, and resembles no other state in the Water-Realm, for its administration is so highly centralized that even the simplest personal undertaking appears to require a stamp of authority. Common citizens have few rights and can be conscripted into the army or used as forced labour without any redress; only members of the nobility and high ranking military officers may question the actions of the First Tribune’s all pervading civil service and only at the risk of life and limb.”